University of North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is considered one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft class, but his stock dipped a bit after a rather disappointing 2023 campaign.
But Maye isn’t sweating it.
During a recent appearance on FS1’s The Carton Show, Maye answered his critics.
Drake Maye defends himself against critics of his last season at UNC:
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) April 24, 2024
"I still threw for well over 3,000, so it's not like I wasn't making plays." — @DrakeMaye2 pic.twitter.com/mLlImg4tn3
It’s good to see Maye clearly maintaining a positive attitude heading into the draft.
He notes that North Carolina was very focused on the run this past season, particularly in the red zone. That’s part of the reason why his touchdowns fell from 2022.
Maye also said that he was still making plays regardless.
The 21-year-old threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 63.3 percent of his passes during his final year with the Tar Heels. He also rushed for 449 yards while punching in nine scores.
Maye arrived at North Carolina in 2021 and became a full-time starter in 2022, when he totaled 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven picks while completing 66.2 percent of his throws. He added 698 yards and seven scores on the ground.
Obviously, Maye’s numbers were a heck of a lot better in his second season, and some have even expressed concern about some mechanical issues he has.
That being said, Maye is still regarded as one of the top three quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, with some ranking him as high as No. 2 behind USC’s Caleb Williams. Maye will probably either end up being selected by the Washington Commanders or Chicago bears at pick No. 2 or 3 on Thursday night.
We’ll see if Drake Maye is able to prove his doubters wrong in 2024.
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