In 17 seasons in the NFL, 16 of which were spent with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, Philip Rivers established himself as a bona fide star quarterback.
He made the Pro Bowl eight times and took the Chargers to the playoffs six times, even though he played with multiple sets of teammates, especially on offense.
Now, Rivers is paying it forward by working with Drake Maye, the talented quarterback from the University of North Carolina who is expected to be one of the first three or four players chosen in Thursday’s draft, per Kevin Clark.
Drake Maye is working with Philip Rivers before the draft. He loves it. Rivers and the QBs he’s worked with (Maye, Bo Nix, Carter Bradley) recently had a throwing contest. Out routes into a net.
Philip Rivers won.
Many, if not most, people feel Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are better quarterback prospects than Maye this year, but in all likelihood, the team that ends up with Maye will be happy with him.
He threw for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2023, and while he lacks true dual-threat ability, he is regarded as a very good natural athlete who has excellent arm strength.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he also has very good size for a signal-caller in the NFL.
While the New England Patriots have the No. 3 pick in this week’s draft, it isn’t a foregone conclusion Maye will be chosen by the Patriots or even at No. 3.
There are whispers they may trade down, and there are also rumors that J.J. McCarthy from the University of Michigan has seen his stock rise enough to be taken right before Maye.
This could end up being the best overall draft class the NFL has seen since 1983, when John Elway, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly entered the league.
