The Washington Commanders took a risk by inviting four quarterbacks at the same time for a visit before the 2024 NFL draft. NFL draft.
Quarterback Drake Maye from North Carolina shared about the visit on the show This Is Football podcast with Kevin Clark on April 22. Maye was there with LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. They all met up at Top Golf.
“I thought it was one of the cooler visits I’ve been on,” said Maye. “Usually, when you visit, there’s a fancy dinner with the head coach, GM, and quarterback coaches. But the Commanders had us all together to see how we interact and also gave us the chance to play golf.
“I enjoyed being around the guys… I know J.J. well, and I got to meet Jayden. We all had separate time with the coaches too. But Top Golf was a fun activity for us to do before the visit.”
Drake Maye Expected to be No. 2 Overall Pick by PFF
PFF’s Nick Akridge predicts that the Commanders will choose Maye with the second pick overall on April 25 in Detroit.
“Washington has been searching for a franchise quarterback for many years now, and the new leadership is taking a chance with Drake Maye,” Akridge stated. “Maye has all the qualities to become an NFL franchise quarterback. He excelled in 2023, earning an impressive 94.8 passing grade on throws in between the college hashes, the best in the FBS.”
Maye, who is 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, saw a significant drop in his performance from 2022 to 2023. In 2022, Maye threw for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions, along with 698 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns in 14 games, leading to being named ACC Player of the Year.
In 2023, Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions, along with 449 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns in 12 games and was named second-team All-ACC.
Maye Compared to Former No. 1 Overall Pick
NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah compared Maye to former USC quarterback and 2003 No. 1 overall pick Carson Palmer before the 2023 season.
Palmer was selected No. 1 by the Cincinnati Bengals and played 15 seasons in the NFL, earning NFL All-Pro honors in 2015 and making the Pro Bowl three times.
“There isn’t a perfect comparison that comes to mind after studying Maye,” Jeremiah wrote. “The closest comp would probably be former Bengals, Raiders and Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. Both guys have all the desired traits: size, arm strength, mobility, and accuracy. Palmer entered the NFL in 2003 with better footwork, while Maye is a better overall athlete.”
Maye mentioned that one of the things he’s focused on in the time leading up to the draft has been ignoring the buzz around him, especially the negative aspects. He even referred to himself in the third person.
“Not many people in the media understand what it’s like to stand in the pocket and have someone coming for your head,” Maye said on This Is Football. “So you just ignore some of that and listen to those whom you respect. Everyone out there will have an opinion, and those who don't like me, you ignore them because there are plenty of Drake Maye fans.”
