The upcoming 2024 NFL draft has generated considerable buzz, due to its lineup of standout prospects such as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Amid Deion Sanders’ intervention to prevent his son Shedeur Sanders from entering the draft, Drake Maye has emerged as another promising prospect, declaring his draft.
As anticipation builds for the NFL draft, attention is now shifting to the NFL Combine 2024, where college football’s brightest stars will converge to showcase their athleticism. Amidst this excitement, stunning developments have surfaced regarding the North Carolina standout, Drake Maye.
Drake Maye reportedly not throwing at NFL Combine
As quarterbacks gear up to meet in Indianapolis for the 2024 NFL Combine, there’s an obvious void in the plans of top prospect Drake Maye. Jordan Schultz, an NFL insider, shared that Maye plans to skip throwing at the combine and will concentrate on interviews and physicals with teams that are interested.
Maye’s decision mirrors that of fellow standout quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jaylen Daniels, both of whom are expected to skip the throwing and testing aspects of the combine.
Amid the huddle of anticipation and speculation, Maye keeps a steady eye on the upcoming combine. During a recent interview, he emphasized the significance of seizing the opportunity to showcase his abilities on the biggest stage.
“Just be myself, I think that’s the big thing. I’m excited for it, shoot, you dream your whole life of playing in the NFL and getting this opportunity so just go enjoy it.”
His confidence is like that of a star quarterback leading his team to victory, given his impressive performance in the previous season. With impressive numbers like 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and the ability to both pass and run effectively, he heads into the combine with a standout resume that will surely turn heads in the football world.
Former NFL RB sounds alarm for teams interested in Drake Maye
In a recent podcast on “The Sports Junkies,” ex-NFL running back Merril Hoge gave his straightforward evaluation of Drake Maye’s draft prospects, going against the grain of most analysts. Hoge threw a flag at Maye, claiming he doesn’t have what it takes to be a first-round pick given his inconsistency, lack of accuracy, slow processing, and limited athleticism.
“I wouldn’t touch Maye. I wouldn’t grab Maye. I wouldn’t grab him in the first round, and there’s a bunch of things that bother me. He’s extremely inconsistent. His accuracy, his processing are inconsistent. He’s not extremely athletic,” he said, per Sportskeeda.
According to Hoge, the performance of the 21-year-old raises red flags, particularly in terms of his throwing motion, which he perceives as too elongated, potentially leaving Maye vulnerable to hits in the NFL.
“I think I’m finding [him] more stiff. He’s got a longer throwing motion, which allows more hits in our league…and I’m just bothered by it,” he added.
Interestingly, Hoge’s analysis goes further than just Maye, with reports suggesting he has also evaluated USC standout Caleb Williams. But in a shocking turn of events, Hoge seems to be a huge fan of current Heisman Trophy holder Jayden Daniels, praising his skills leading up to the upcoming draft.
Experts are leaning towards Maye and Williams as early first-round picks, but Hoge’s differing opinion has stirred up debate in the football community.
However, until the crucial moment when Roger Goodell reveals the draft picks on April 25th, neither Maye nor Williams nor Daniels could be sure where their NFL journey will begin.
