Perry, Hoyer analyze Drake Maye’s talent set in pre-draft movie overview

Perry, Hoyer analyze Drake Maye’s skill set in pre-draft film review initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2024 NFL Draft is lower than 24 hours away, and this 12 months’s class is all in regards to the quarterbacks.

One of many high quarterbacks out there is Drake Maye. The previous UNC star has been the second- or third-ranked QB within the 2024 class for not less than a 12 months now. It will be fairly shocking, primarily based on all professional mock drafts, if he didn’t go within the high three of the primary spherical Thursday night time.

NBC Sports activities Boston just lately broke down movie of Maye, with Tom E. Curran, Phil Perry and former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer analyzing the UNC quarterback’s talent set, which you’ll watch within the video participant above.

One factor that actually stood out to Hoyer was Maye’s measurement and athleticism. Maye is listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 kilos, but additionally runs fairly effectively.

“I feel there’s clearly going to be comparisons to large athletic guys like Josh Allen — large, tall, robust, can run, athletic, additionally a giant arm,” Hoyer defined. “So having watched him in preparation for this, you see some comparisons to that.”

The Patriots’ deep passing sport was a wrestle in 2023. Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe weren’t in a position to join on sufficient performs past 20 yards. This lack of explosiveness was among the many the reason why New England ranked tied for final in scoring at 13.8 factors per sport. A few of that’s as a result of absence of a real No. 1 vast receiver, however you want a powerful, correct quarterback to make these sorts of throws. Maye initiatives to be that man within the professional sport.

“He has been so efficient with the deep ball. These throws that go over 20 yards within the air, he has been arguably one of the best within the nation the final two years,” Perry stated. “Is there something, Brian, that stands out to you when it comes to the footwork?

“We do not need to begin critiquing these guys proper off the highest, however that has been the massive critique with regards to Maye’s sport, is ‘you bought to scrub up that footwork.’ Is that an enormous problem for you going from the school stage to the throw stage?”

“I really suppose it is the best factor to repair,” Hoyer responded. “Coming in, I discovered a lot from watching Tom (Brady) and his footwork, and clearly Invoice O’Brien and his teaching. The footwork, to me, can be the least of the issues.”

“If you wish to pause this play at first, the very first thing that stands out to me is his recognition of protection. We name this blitz zero. There are 5 defensive backs lined up throughout. It is an empty formation. There’s solely 5 linemen to dam they usually’re blitzing six guys. So what’s extra spectacular than this throw, and it is not exhausting to inform, however he sees the blitz and is aware of precisely the place the weak level within the safety is, he is aware of a man goes to return free from the left facet.

“He is aware of what matchups he has — it is man protection. I really suppose that is good footwork. He drifts a bit to the correct the place the safety is a bit more agency, lofts a terrific cross — we name this an inside slot fade — proper over the man’s shoulder. You could not actually ask for a greater play from the quarterback proper there.”

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What can be a high-end comp for Maye? In different phrases, what’s, or near, the best-case state of affairs for his growth?

Curran: “That is going to be a quicker, much less highly effective arm, a smidge smaller Drew Bledsoe.”

Hoyer: “For me, he isn’t going to run in addition to Josh Allen, and he isn’t as large or as robust, however there’s undoubtedly some comparisons, and if he has time to develop, I feel that might be the best-case state of affairs.”

Perry: “I’d go Justin Herbert. He isn’t as tall as Herbert, however I feel his arm is rather less than Allen’s and he isn’t fairly as quick as Allen. I feel that possibly places him in a bit nearer ballpark to Herbert.”

Taking Maye at No. 3 can be a superb final result for the Patriots within the first spherical Thursday. However their determination largely will come all the way down to what the Washington Commanders do in entrance of them at No. 2. The Commanders additionally want a quarterback.