What makes the NFL Draft so fun is the variance of opinions for the top prospects, and North Carolina’s QB Drake Maye is a perfect example.
While many people believe Maye fits the modern prototype for a franchise quarterback and is deserving of a top-three selection, others are less confident in him as a draft prospect. Such is the case with one one NFL analyst in particular, who didn’t hold back in his skepticism and criticism of Maye on Monday morning.
Merril Hoge Rips Drake Maye Ahead of NFL Combine
NFL analyst Merril Hoge is unafraid to give his opinion on draft prospects and prides himself on calling it as he sees it. Hoge is famous for being deadset against Johnny Manziel coming out of college, and he tried to warn teams about taking the QB due to what he saw both on the field and off of it.
While Maye and Manziel have nothing in common and are in no way comparable as prospects and personalities, Hoge once again issued another warning about taking a QB early that he doesn’t believe in.
“I would not touch Maye,” Hoge begins. “He’s extremely inconsistent. His processing inconsistent. He’s not extremely athletic. I find him more stiff. He got a longer throwing motion, which allows more picks.”
Maye isn’t the first top 2023 quarterback prospect that Hoge has openly criticized. Earlier this month, Hoge said on the record that he doesn’t believe former USC QB Caleb Williams is special and that he “ain’t remotely close to that” in regards to the frequent comparisons Williams has received to Patrick Mahomes.
While Hoge isn’t a believer in either Maye or Williams, he is a much bigger fan of the other top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft: 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.
Combine Will Paint Clearer Picture for Maye and Others
There will be plenty more to dissect over the next couple of months, starting with this week’s NFL Combine. With top prospects, such as Williams and Daniels, deciding not to throw at the Combine, Maye’s decision has not been made public at this time.
Either way, all three will be in attendance in Indianapolis to meet with teams all week long. The rumblings coming out of this week will paint a clearer picture of whether the league feels more closely aligned to the outpouring of support for Maye there has been or if Hoge is not an island with his take as he seems to be right now.
KEEP READING: Top QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
The draft and the scouting process is an imperfect science, with teams getting it wrong all the time. Only time will tell if Hoge is on the right side of history with his feelings regarding Maye.
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