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Mel Kiper Jr. explains why New England Patriots must draft Drake Maye at No. 3

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•04/11/24•

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 03: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs the ball against the Clemson Tigers in the second quarter during the ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots may have found their next franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. just released his fourth mock draft of 2024 and has the former North Carolina QB going to the Patriots at No. 3 overall.

“Yes, they have need areas, but trading out of here would make no sense to me because you have to keep up with teams in your division,” Kiper said on the SportsCenter special that focuses on his mock draft. Kiper mentioned the quarterbacks in the AFC East, including Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.

Kiper also mentioned Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow as other talented quarterbacks in the AFC. “So now you get Drake Maye and try to build up around him,” he said. “He’s 21 years of age. Does he need to speed up that delivery? Does he need to be a little more precise and accurate? Yes, he does, but the opportunity is there for this organization. …Build up the line, give him some weapons.

“They forgot about Mac Jones. That didn’t work out well. It wasn’t Mac Jones, that was the on the organization,” Kiper continued. “Now this organization has to develop the talent base around Drake Maye.”

NFL analyst gives very strong take on Drake Maye

If the Patriots select Maye, one NFL analyst believes the coaching staff and front office will be on the hot seat. Merril Hoge spoke to Henry Lake of WCCO and had some interesting things to say about Maye.

“Drake Maye is the kind of player that will get you fired,” Hoge said. “Especially if you draft him in the top five or top three, he’s going to get you fired.”

Hoge went on to say that he compares Maye to Malik Willis of the Tennessee Titans. “Willis might be the only guy that I can think of that is as erratic as Maye,” Hodge said. “I studied him for two years…I watched every one of his games last year. …His last game against [North Carolina State] was probably the most embarrassing display I’ve seen from a guy who is supposed to be an elite franchise quarterback. …He’s erratic. He’s everywhere.”

It’s difficult to predict how Maye or any of the QB prospects will do in the NFL. As Kiper mentioned, if Maye has strong talent around him and continues to develop once he gets to the league, he can have a long and successful professional career.