Analyst not sold on Drake Maye despite mock draft predictions?

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller suggested in a piece published Friday that some team will "overdraft" North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye soon after the player-selection process gets underway on the night of April 25. 

"Projecting where Maye will ultimately be selected in the first round -- somewhere in the top six picks -- is much easier than deciding his grade," Miller explained. "He is hovering at No. 9 overall on my board with the potential to slide down a little in the final run-up to the draft. I just think the situation he is drafted into will matter so much in determining what kind of success Maye has in the NFL."

Some have said Maye could "be a better quarterback than" Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans and "would be the No. 1 pick in like 80% of drafts." 

Those high on Maye have compared him to Los Angeles Chargers starting QB Justin Herbert and Buffalo Bills star QB Josh Allen. Others insist that Maye needs to sit as a rookie and "is just not ready" to guide an NFL offense at this stage of his development. 

It seems a lock that the Chicago Bears will make Williams the draft's first pick. Reports from this week indicate the Washington Commanders will select either LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels or Michigan Wolverines signal-caller J.J. McCarthy second overall. 

The New England Patriots possess the third choice and are expected to take Daniels, McCarthy or Maye depending on who they prefer out of the previously named quarterbacks still on the board. 

"He only started 26 games in college, and his turnovers (16 interceptions) and missed throws scare me," Miller added about Maye. "I've accepted that Maye will be drafted much higher than my ranking for him, but he's my most difficult evaluation when it comes to balancing his upside with his current ability."

Miller's take likely won't cause Maye to slide too far down the draft order on the final Thursday of April. 

In their latest mock drafts, six different CBS Sports analysts predicted Maye won't get past the fifth pick. Josh Edwards of CBS Sports believes Washington will take Maye at No. 2 over Daniels and McCarthy.