Field Yates, Mel Kiper Jr. predict Patriots will draft Drake Maye to replace Mac Jones

Drake Maye is right in the conversation to be the second quarterback off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. For those at ESPN, though, he went third, both at the position and overall, to be the next quarterback of the New England Patriots.

Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr. selected Maye at No. 3 for New England in a mini mock on ‘First Draft’ on Monday.

As far as evaluation, Yates started by noting Maye’s age as a key positive for him compared to some of the other quarterbacks. Add in his clear talent with his arm and he has no doubt that he has a very high ceiling as far as his future as a professional.

“Just a redshirt sophomore. He has played two full seasons at the collegiate level. I am not saying that age, guys who are a little bit older like Jayden Daniels, is a major detriment. I also think that we should acknowledge that Drake Maye is two full years younger than Jayden Daniels,” said Yates. “He just turned 21 years old recently. The developmental upside is very high.”

“This player has shown a ton of upside and he is a strike-thrower,” Yates said. “I know that we have been talking a lot about Jayden Daniels but you and I both agree that Drake Maye still has all the goods to be a high, high-level franchise-type quarterback in the NFL.”

However, while Kiper Jr. agrees that he will be the Patriots pick if Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are off the board, he says the offense has to come a long way in order to support him. That’s something the franchise must address to keep his trajectory from turning out last like their last first-round quarterback’s did.

“You just hope that they will build that offensive line up, get some receivers. They hung Mac Jones out to dry. They didn’t give Mac Jones a fighting chance,” Kiper Jr. said. “If you go Drake Maye here? You’ve got to develop and build that offensive line. you’ve got to get some weapons around him. Hopefully they handle the situation in terms of the talent around Drake Maye a lot better than they did with Mac Jones.”

“You’ve got to hope that Drake Maye can be that guy. The only way he will be is for the organization to do what they need to do. Which is what everybody needs to do – help your quarterback out, don’t forget about him,” said Kiper Jr.. “Drake Maye is a lot more talented than Mac. But every quarterback needs some assistance up front, unless you’re (Patrick) Mahomes who can win with anybody.”

Quarterback is the prime position in the National Football League, especially at this point in the AFC. That makes this pick a no-brainer for Yates and Kiper Jr., especially if it’s Maye that’s still on the board as the third of the three top quarterbacks.

“Drake Maye, no question, at three,” Kiper Jr. said. “If it goes the way we scope, we have figured it out at one and two? Drake Maye at three. There’s no other way for the Patriots to go.”