Drake Maye of North Carolina Tar Heels looking on. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner had a rather critical take on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, a consensus top-three quarterback for the 2024 NFL Draft class.

For a while, Drake Maye was the overwhelming favorite to be drafted second overall by the Washington Commanders behind USC’s Caleb Williams, who’s a virtual lock to be selected at No. 1 by the Chicago Bears.

The betting odds have shifted in Jayden Daniels’ favor in recent weeks, however. And earlier this week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero stated that most rival team executives he spoke to believe Washington will actually take Michigan QB J.J .McCarthy with the No. 2 selection.

During his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show”, Warner offered a critical assessment of Maye, citing his problems with making the “layups” and easy throws.
“He misses too many, what I call, layups. When you get to the NFL, you gotta make your layups. You gotta make the layups 99 percent of the time…The reads you’re supposed to make that are easy reads…the throws you’re supposed to make…and he misses too many of those.

The guys that make the layups give their team a chance to win every time out. Even if they don’t make all these special plays…you make the layups that are in front of you…the reads you’re supposed to make….you give yourself a chance every single week…That’s what the best quarterbacks in the league do.”

Drake Maye had a phenomenal 2022 season at North Carolina, completing 66.2 percent of his pass attempts for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions to go along with seven rushing scores.

Maye’s stats took a noticeable dip in 2023, however. He completed 63.3 percent of pass attempts for 3,608 yards and only 24 touchdowns against nine interceptions, though Maye finished with a career-high nine rushing scores.

Drake Maye Will Still Likely Be A Top-Five Pick

His stock may have fallen in recent weeks, but it would still be a massive surprise if Drake Maye wasn’t a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Even if Washington takes McCarthy or Daniels at No. 2, the QB-needy New England Patriots may find it difficult to pass on Maye’s talents. If McCarthy and Daniels both go ahead of Maye, then there’s a high chance that the Arizona Cardinals (No. 4) or Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5) will trade their pick to a team needing a quarterback.

No NFL prospect is perfect, and Maye’s high upside outweigh the few flaws in his game. Though criticism on Maye has come under the microscope in recent weeks, it would still be a giant surprise if he wasn’t a top-five selection.