NFL Scout: Drake Maye Will Be a 'Big Project,' Not 'Naturally Accurate' Passer

Some scouts believe North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye may need some help adjusting once the anticipated top-three 2024 draft pick makes it to the NFL.

"Drake's going to a be a big project because he's just not naturally accurate," an NFC scout told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Maye completed 269 of 425 pass attempts to mark a 63.3 percent completion rate in 2023.

"He's 6-5, he can definitely move around in the pocket. He's not going to be a statue. But he's closer to Brock Osweiler than he is to (Justin) Herbert in terms of athleticism for me," one AFC executive told Pelissero. "I think he's not as quick in the pocket to get out of trouble as you would like. I don't think he's quite that athletic, nor is he a Big Ben (Roethlisberger) type where he's tough, physical, strong, maybe not going to move but he's big enough to handle all the bodies around him. He's kind of in between."

Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions during his final season at UNC.

He is ranked as the No. 1 quarterback prospect by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen in the latest 2024 NFL Draft Big Board.

Maye's passing accuracy came under scrutiny after his completion rates dropped in the latter half of UNC's season for the second straight year.

After starting out the 2023 campaign with six straight wins, North Carolina finished out the season with a 2-4 record. Maye connected on less than 60 percent of his passes in three of those four losses.

UNC still finished the season ranked seventh in the FBS in total yards of offense per game last season, despite playing under a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey.

One AFC coordinator told Pelissero this offense did Maye "a disservice in terms of pro readiness."

"The best thing that could happen to him is to sit for a year, and then I think if he goes to a good spot and he learns — and it seems like he's a good kid and he'll do all the right stuff— he'll ultimately have success," the AFC coordinator told Pelissero.

"If he had to go play early for a bad team, I think it might set him back and I'd be concerned about that. He's more tools than complete player, to me, right now. He misses stuff that he shouldn't, just in terms of accuracy. There's stuff that he leaves out there that he needs to clean up."

Maye not get the chance to spend his first NFL season on the sidelines, however.

The Chicago Bears are widely expected to select Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, but Maye could be selected by one of two franchises in need of an immediate starting quarterback in the Washington Commanders or the New England Patriots.

There's always the chance another team could trade up to draft Maye, however. The Patriots Eliot Wolf has said the team is open to potential trades for the No. 3 pick.

According to the AFC coordinator speaking with Pelissero, the best-case scenario is for that trade proposal to a come from a team already set with a veteran starting quarterback for Maye to learn from next season.