Todd McShay has Drake Maye reuniting with teammate in 2024 NFL mock draft
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye will enter his second season as the starter for the Tar Heels in 2023. And going into the season, Maye is considered one of the top prospects for the 2024 NFL draft.
While he’s behind USC’s Caleb Williams for the top quarterback in the draft, Maye is still considered to be one of the top five players. After the 2023 NFL draft is now in the books, ESPN’s Todd McShay released his first mock for the 2024 cycle and has Maye reuniting with a former teammate.
The only problem? It’s fellow former UNC quarterback Sam Howell.
McShay mocked Maye No. 3 overall to the Washington Commanders as the franchise resets at quarterback. Here is what he said about the pick and Washington’s situation:
Maye is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and has a massive arm. Not only did he throw 38 touchdown passes last season, but he also ran for seven scores and almost 700 yards. Washington might be comfortable with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett at the moment, but the former is a fifth-round pick with one career start, and the latter is a 30-year-old veteran backup on a one-year deal. I understand the Commanders passing on quarterback down the board at No. 16 in 2023, but if they have a chance to get someone like Maye next April, it could change things for the franchise. Washington was outside the top 20 in nearly every passing metric last season.
Maye and Howell have a close relationship and played one year at North Carolina. The two have stayed close friends despite Howell being in the NFL last season.
As we go into 2023, Howell has the chance to prove he’s the guy for the Commanders and is the starter going into offseason workouts. A big year for Howell could convince the Commanders’ franchise that he’s the guy and then they wouldn’t pick Maye.
But a lot can happen between now and April of 2024.
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