The 2024 NFL Draft class saw a historic number of quarterbacks drafted in the first 12 picks.
Six quarterbacks went off the board in the first 12 selections, an indication of how needy many teams were at the position.
One of those six picks was Drake Maye, who went to the New England Patriots with the No. 3 pick.
Maye was a heavily debated player coming into this draft, especially since his final college season didn’t turn out how he might have hoped.
While his numbers weren’t as great as the previous season, there is still reason to be excited about what Maye could do in the NFL.
Field Yates talked about this in a recent appearance on the Ross Tucker Podcast, giving an example of how things could have been different for Maye.
“If Drake Maye’s college career had been reversed, he might’ve been the No. 1 pick… That’s how special he was during the 2022 season… Born to play QB at the NFL level,” Yates said.
“If Drake Maye’s college career had been reversed he might’ve been the #1 pick…that’s how special he was during the 2022 season…born to play QB at the NFL level.”@FieldYates talks about why he’s high on Maye despite his inconsistent 2023 campaign: pic.com/4ziJAxUSNY
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) June 7, 2024
Yates believes that if Maye had popped in 2023 instead of 2022, the 2024 NFL Draft could have looked a lot different.
Maye burst on the scene in 2022, throwing for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns, only adding seven interceptions.
If he would have done that in his final year at UNC, there’s no telling what his draft stock might have been like.
Being taken with the No. 3 pick is a fine consolation prize for Maye, who will have an opportunity to prove his doubters wrong with the Patriots.
Will he be the answer the team has been craving at the position since Tom Brady’s departure?
