Former NFL RB expands on controversial Drake Maye draft takes

Retired player and current NFL analyst Merril Hoge generated headlines when he said during the winter that he "wouldn’t draft" North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye in the first round of the player-selection process that gets underway on April 25. 

According to Chris Schad of Athlon Sports, Hoge elaborated on his Maye take during a recent chat with Henry Lake of CBS Minnesota. 

"Drake Maye is the kind of player that will get you fired," Hoge directly said. "Especially if you draft him in the top five or top three, he's going to get you fired."

There continue to be more questions than answers regarding Maye's draft stock as of Monday. Those who think he could "be a better quarterback than" Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans have compared Maye to Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen. However, some analysts believe Maye will have to sit at least throughout his rookie season to reach his advertised ceiling. 

Williams is expected to go to the Chicago Bears via the draft's first pick. 

"I studied him for two years," Hoge said about Maye. "I watched every one of his games last year. ...His last game against [the North Carolina State Wolfpack] was probably the most embarrassing display I've seen from a guy who is supposed to be an elite franchise quarterback. ...He's erratic. He's everywhere."

Specifically, Maye completed 22-of-38 passes (57.9%) for 254 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 39-20 loss to North Carolina State on Nov. 25. 

While one game only shows so much about what a college signal-caller will and/or won't be at the highest level, it's worth noting that Hoge is hardly the only person to suggest Maye needs to address multiple aspects of his game such as his footwork and his longer throwing motion. 

"People think his athleticism will translate, but people want him to run and they will bust him up," Hoge said about Maye possibly being a dual-threat player at the sport's most important position. "He is not athletic enough. If he doesn't get down and learn how to do that, he won't last until Week 10." 

That's all well and good, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out that "quarterbacks tend to get overdrafted, especially with so many teams hoping to roll the dice and emerge with a top-five quarterback, sooner or later." 

In a mock draft posted on Monday morning, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted that the Washington Commanders will take Maye at pick No. 2. Six different CBS Sports analysts have Maye going off the board before the sixth pick is spent on the final Thursday of the month.