NFL Draft guru shares major warning about QB Drake Maye

ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is the latest noteworthy individual to suggest that North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye should not take meaningful snaps in the league anytime soon. 

"Is he a quarterback that should play as a rookie? I don’t think so," Kiper said about Maye during the latest edition of the "Eye on Foxborough" podcast, as shared by Karen Guregian of MassLive.

Many expect that USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams and LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels will be the draft's first two picks. The New England Patriots currently possess the third overall selection, seemingly are in no hurry to trade out of that pick and have both Jacoby Brissett and backup Bailey Zappe on the roster to serve as bridge options at the position who could play this fall ahead of a rookie such as Maye. 

Maye's accuracy issues in college and his long delivery are two reasons why Kiper has the North Carolina product third among his quarterback prospects behind Williams and Daniels. 

"He has a longer delivery than people prefer because that gives NFL corners a chance to break on the ball," Kiper explained about Maye. "Remember, (New York Jets starter) Aaron Rodgers changed his delivery when he went from (the California Golden Bears) to the Green Bay Packers. But they had time to do that." 

Both Rodgers and current Green Bay QB1 Jordan Love found success at the highest level after they first learned about life in the NFL as backups. Earlier this month, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky warned that Maye "has to be on the Jordan Love-type of timeline" and "has to sit" as a rookie. More recently, Chris Simms of NBC Sports told Ben Volin of The Boston Globe that Maye should not be the No. 3 pick in the draft "if he’s on the Jordan Love plan to sit and develop." 

Kiper acknowledged that Maye "needs some development" before he's ready to face live NFL defenses. Despite that, Kiper and numerous other analysts believe either the Patriots or a different club will ultimately make Maye the draft's third pick on April 25. 

Whether or not a team will let Maye develop as a spectator through at least next winter shall be seen.