Mel Kiper Jr. believes Drake Maye needs to sit one year in NFL

Mel Kiper Jr. beleives that Drake Maye will make the most impact by not playing the NFL right away. The ESPN NFL Draft expert talked about the former North Carolina quarterback on ESPN First Draft and said that Maye needs to sit for one year before taking the field.

“I think Drake with another year at North Carolina, I think he would have taken off because he did have games late in the year where we know about the accuracy and the precise passing was off,” Kiper said. “Even the Pro Day, he missed a couple throws early, but they got in a rhythm and he was lights out.”

Kiper pointed out that Maye had some games where it took him time to get into a rhythm. He also mentioned the offensive weapons surrounding Maye but still didn’t take that next step.

“For me, this year it just wasn’t that scintillating performance. It wasn’t that wow performance later in the season,” Kiper stated. “Now, you say does he need to sit for a year? I think he does. I don’t think he’s going to be ready to set the world on fire in the NFL. I think another year at North Carolina would have made him in line to be the No. 1, No. 2 pick overall.”

Kiper has Maye ranked No. 7 on his big board and predicts he will selected No. 3 overall. But he believes that if Maye sits for one year and learns from a veteran QB, he could be a special player.

Drake Maye enjoyed talking to the Patriots

If Maye is selected No. 3 overall, he would play for the New England Patriots. During his Pro Day, Maye spoke to reporters about the conversations he had with the Patriots ahead of the draft.

“They’ve been great,” Maye said. “Coach [Jerod] Mayo, first-year head coach, congrats to him. And just in there talking with new offensive coordinator coach Alex Van Pelt and learning their stuff. He’s just been awesome. For such a historic program and team and history up there in New England, so just getting the chance to know them, get to know what they’re about, and their champion mindset of getting back to the glory days has been cool.”

Maye finished his college football career at North Carolina with 7,929 yards, 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year in 2002.

On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this report.