What are the mock drafts saying about where Drake Maye will land in the NFL?
When redshirt sophomore Drake Maye made the decision to opt out of UNC’s bowl game and subsequently declared for the NFL draft, speculation arose about which NFL team the Myers Park quarterback would be playing for in the upcoming season. Let’s explore the predictions made by experts.
Mel Kiper and his Big Board rank Drake Maye at the #3 spot, following Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. at #1 and #2, respectively.
In various mock drafts, most pundits predict the Chicago Bears selecting Caleb Williams as the #1 overall pick and Drake Maye being chosen second by the Washington Commanders. In this scenario, Maye would join former Tar Heel teammate Sam Howell in the quarterback room for the Commanders. This consensus is shared by experts such as ESPN’s Jordan Reid, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, and Sports Illustrated’s Patrick Chiotti. However, there are a few dissenting opinions.
Curt Popejoy from USA Today’s Draft Wire envisions the Bears opting for Justin Fields at QB and selecting WR Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State as the top pick. According to Popejoy, Drake Maye would still go #2 overall to the Commanders, with Caleb Williams dropping to the New England Patriots at the third pick.
Notably, Popejoy also predicts UNC WR Tez Walker going in the first round to the Buffalo Bills with the 29th pick. Similarly, Daniel Jeremiah forecasts Tez’s selection in the first round, but to the Kansas City Chiefs (subject to change after playoff results). If these predictions materialize, the prospect of Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes targeting Tez presents a formidable offensive arsenal.
USA Today’s For the Win site, represented by Christian D’Andrea, predicts Drake Maye as the #1 selection for the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams going second to the Washington Commanders.
All indications suggest that Drake Maye is poised to be a top-three draft pick, with potential landing spots being Chicago, Washington, or New England, unless another team trades up. If he joins the Commanders, Maye would enter a situation with a new owner (a positive compared to the organization’s previous state) and a new coach, pending the offseason hiring. Additionally, Maye would compete with Sam Howell for the starting QB position. Howell, after serving as a rookie season backup, led the Washington offense this year, but with the high draft pick invested in Maye, Howell may transition to a mentor role for his fellow Carolina signal caller.
The Commanders already boast two promising young wideouts in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, potentially benefiting from Maye’s strong arm.
Regardless of his destination, there are high expectations for Drake Maye to make an impact on an NFL offense. Where would you prefer to see Drake in the NFL? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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