Drake Maye is the 'leader in the clubhouse' to be picked No. 3 overall, Adam Schefter says

Adam Schefter believes that North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye will be selected third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The ESPN insider made an appearance on a mock draft special Monday where he explained that Maye is the “leader in the clubhouse” to be taken once Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are off the board.

The New England Patriots currently own the No. 3 pick and need a new QB after trading Mac Jones to the Jaguars this offseason. However, it’s unclear whether they plan on staying in that spot or trading down and getting a quarterback elsewhere, such as J.J. McCarthy from Michigan.

It turned out pretty well the last time they drafted a Wolverines QB, after all.

Schefter speculated the Patriots could trade the pick to Minnesota(currently No. 5), which he thinks would take Maye in that spot, and grab McCarthy later. However, they also might want to pick the former Tar Heel themselves.

“I think that Drake Maye is the leader in the clubhouse, but it all depends on the team that you talk to,” he said. “If Minnesota were to find a way to get up to three, my sense is that Drake Maye would be the preference. So if you’re New England you have to say, ‘OK, we’re at three. Do we take Drake Maye or do we trade back and get JJ McCarthy? What do we wanna do to come out of this with the quarterback we believe in?'”

Maye ended his college career with 8,018 yards passing, 63 touchdowns to only 16 interceptions. He was named the ACC Player of the Year as a redshirt freshman in 2022 before going on to earn second team all-conference honors this past season.

Most mock drafts had Drake Maye ahead of McCarthy when the draft process started, and ESPN analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates stuck with that Monday, predicting New England to take him No. 3 overall. However, other mocks such as Pro Football Focus have projected McCarthy as high as No. 2 and have the Patriots trading the pick.

Maye has been a popular projection to go to Minnesota whether they trade up to get him or he falls to No. 5. However, Schefter doesn’t see the latter happening no mater which team he ends up on.