This divisive QB with ‘bad habits’ set for first round in NFL Draft could be a huge bust in wrong ‘situation,’ expert says

Caleb Williams has been compared to Patrick Mahomes.

Jayden Daniels is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, despite an elbow that shocked NFL fans after a gruesome photo resurfaced.

But there’s only one quarterback projected to enter the first round of the upcoming draft that’s truly divisive, and one NFL Draft analyst already has some serious question marks over the former college star.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said he’s concerned about Drake Maye’s NFL future and that he’s not as high on the QB as other players regularly mention among the 10 best possible choices.

“Drake Maye is the one,” Miller exclusively told talkSPORT. “It’s always a little scary. Look at the guys who have been the most debated players, it’s usually not good.”

With four young QBs projected to be in the top 10 on April 25 in Detroit – a recent ESPN draft had all four QBs off the board in the initial five picks – there’s no doubt that a dazzling spotlight will surround the most important . position in professional sport.

Williams is considered a lock for Chicago at No. 1, after the Bears traded away former first-round pick Justin Fields.

Daniels could become No. 2 for the Washington Commanders.

Many mocked a former North Carolina QB next.

And that, according to Miller, is where the big questions come.

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Maye threw 63 touchdowns in three seasons for the Tar Heels, but was only a starter for two years.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound QB redshirted in 2021 and played in four games as a backup.

He excelled in 2022, winning ACC Player of the Year by passing for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns.

This breakout season began Maye’s upward draft push.

But he was inconsistent last year and experts continue to debate his value in the first round, with some predicting a boom and others fearing a major bust.

Miller believes Maye needs time to develop and learn the NFL.

But if he goes to Washington at No. 2 or New England at No. 3, he’ll likely be pushed to get on the field as soon as possible.

The Minnesota Vikings, who moved on from veteran Kirk Cousins ​​in free agency, are also a trade candidate at the top of the draft.

“With Drake, I hope he gets into a situation where he doesn’t have to play right away,” Miller said. “Unfortunately, when you’re drafted in the first six picks, you play right away. Jordan Love and Patrick Mahomes situations are rare these days.”

ESPN’s Field Yates wrote that Maye “has the ideal quarterback build at 6-4 and 223, a massive arm and very, very good mobility”, and asked the former UNC QB to travel to New England in a simulation.

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The NFL’s official website praised Maye’s “high-level measurables” but also pointed out “inconsistencies that create a lower level.”

“There is an undeniable energy to Maye’s game that can build momentum or become chaotic when matches are not scheduled for him,” the site said. “The combination of traits and tape make him a boom/bust prospect who may need patient management and coaching to help him reach his potential.”

Maye was very confident in the recent draft and seemed ready to live up to first-round expectations.

“You don’t want to game plan for me,” Maye said. NFL Network. “You want to make a game plan with me.”

Miller pointed out that Maye needs “structure” in the NFL, which has consistently featured first-round QBs in recent years.

In the right situation and given time, Maye could excel.

In a bad situation and forced to play earlier than expected, Maye could become another former North Carolina QB drafted way too early in the first round.

The Bears took Mitch Trubisky second overall in 2017, ahead of Mahomes at 10th to the Chiefs.

Trubisky, who went 31-26 as a starter, made a Pro Bowl but quickly lost his job.

He bounced around from Chicago to Buffalo and Pittsburgh, and is now Josh Allen’s backup with the Bills.

“(Maye is) one where I think he needs some structure around him because he has some bad habits with his low body,” Miller said. “He even has some bad habits with his processing speed, where it needs to improve a little bit and a little bit faster.

“And especially in a draft class with so much (quarterback) experience. Bo Nix had 61 starts in college, Michael Penix had 55 starts in college. We have a guy who started about 24 matches and we saw a drop in his play, which always scares me a little bit, when the more people harass you, the less you play. That always scares me a little bit.

“There’s no denying that the arm strength, the toughness, the mobility, all of that is really good and really exciting. That’s why he should probably be in the top 10.

“But the situation for him, as we were talking about with Caleb, the situation for Drake is going to matter, I think, more than anyone else in the class.”