There’s an outside chance Drake Maye heads to Vikings
It’s widely believed that the Chicago Bears and New England, respectively picking first and third in the 2024 NFL Draft, will take quarterbacks with their first picks.
There’s really no need for the Bears to pick a QB, as Justin Fields has shown promise despite poor coaching and a horrendous offensive line, but the chance to select Caleb Williams is too good to pass up.
The New England Patriots, on the contrary, desperately need a gunslinger after the failed Mac Jones experiment. Bailey Zappe could likely stay on as a backup, but he’s struggled greatly in starts, too.
New England is heavily linked to former UNC star quarterback Drake Maye at third overall, but there’s a sleeper team emerging as a possibility to pick Maye.
How about the Minnesota Vikings?
Like the Bears, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Vikings to take Maye. They already have a 4-time Pro Bowler in Kirk Cousins, who ranks among the NFL’s most consistent, productive and reliable quarterbacks.
More realistically, Maye won’t be around when Minnesota selects 11th overall.
Would the Vikings trade up to second overall and take Maye?
“If they’re going to take one (quarterback), it’s going to be someone we love or we’re not doing it,” Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling told KFAN’s Paul Allen Tuesday. “If you have to give up a couple first-round picks for future years, I don’t think they’d bat an eye at that. They have certainly looked at this as, ‘we need to get the guy that we can plant our flag with for the next 10 years.’ If it costs a lot to do that, so be it. I don’t think they’re going to limp in on this, so to speak, and be like, ‘Well, if it’s QB5 and we’re kind of OK with him let’s take him anyway.'”
Wherever Maye ends up, that team is going to be getting a super-talented quarterback who can torture opponents – both through the air and on the ground.
In three years as a Tar Heel (two seasons as a starter), Maye finished with 8,018 passing yards, 63 passing touchdowns, 1,209 rushing yards and 16 rushing scores.
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