Mack Brown reveals what NFL teams are already saying about Drake Maye
Mack Brown is relaying the information that the NFL is keeping a close eye on North Carolina star quarterback Drake Maye.
At the Tar Heels’ Pro Day, North Carolina only had four players working out, but Maye was slinging the ball all over the field for his teammates. That may have caught the eye of franchises more than anything, even if he’s not eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Afterward, Brown made a bold statement, believing Maye would be the top choice if he was available for this year’s iteration.
“He would be a No. 1 draft choice today, in my opinion. All of them are just amazed,” answered Brown. “They sat there and watched yesterday, and we had all 32 teams represented, we had 45 people there, for five guys, and Noah [Taylor] wasn’t working out, because of his injury.
“So that’s pretty amazing, that you would have that many people from an NFL Pro Day show up for five guys, four of them working out.”
While Brown didn’t specifically hear the point about Maye going No. 1 from NFL scouts, reading the tea leaves was enough to convince the Tar Heels leader on his quarterback’s future.
“No, and I didn’t ask them,” Brown responded, asked if any scouts told him Maye would specifically be the No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. “I just know that they all said, ‘My gosh, is this kid great. He is a great player, is there anything wrong with him?’ And I said, ‘No.’ We can all get better. He’s working on footwork.
“When you add, to your offensive room, Freddie Kitchens … that’s a load for new ideas and stuff, and evaluation. … You get new eyeballs on everybody. … They’ve been great additions.”
On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power is high on Maye as an NFL Draft prospect in 2024 and weighed in on the idea of the Tar Heels signal caller’s slotting in either draft class.
“Drake Maye came to North Carolina with a ton of hype as a potential program-changing recruit for Mack Brown,” said Power. “His first season as a starter exceeded those lofty expectations and put Maye staunchly on NFL radars as a potential top-five pick. Maye looked like one of the best quarterbacks in college football as early as his second start against Appalachian State. He’s shown all of the skills that made him one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in the 2021 recruiting cycle.
“The feel for the game, ability to process, deliver throws with accuracy and make creative plays all project well to the NFL. Maye would be a very strong contender for No. 1 overall pick were he to be in either of the past two NFL Drafts. He and Caleb Williams are considered to be two of the better quarterback prospects from college football in recent years.
‘I’d consider Williams the favorite to go No. 1 in 2024 right now, but next season likely determine the order. Regardless, it should be fun to watch those two play this fall.”
Last season, the Tar Heels star put himself on the map, amassing 4,321 passing yards and 38 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. Meanwhile, he also added 698 rushing yards, and scampered for seven more touchdowns on the season, as well.
Entering 2023, Maye will likely be many’s pick to win the Heisman Trophy, and North Carolina will be a popular pick in the ACC due to their quarterback’s innate abilities.
It’s easy to see why NFL franchises are enthralled with Drake Maye, and why Mack Brown believes he would be the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. While he’ll have stiff competition with Caleb Williams next year, some franchise will be elated to choose him to lead their team next season.