Phil Simms Not Impressed With Game Of UNC QB Drake Maye Ahead Of NFL Combine
Along with USC's Caleb Williams, Michigan's JJ McCarthy, and LSU's Jaylen Daniels, UNC quarterback Drake Maye is considered the cream of the crop at the position among this year's NFL draft class.
Former 15-year New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, a two-time Super Bowl champ and two-time Pro Bowler during a storied 1979-93 NFL career, recently took stock of Maye's pro upside on his podcast Simms Complete, which he co-hosts along with his son Matt.
"I was excited to watch him. I have to say this somewhat a little disappointed because my expectations were really high, because that's all I heard. 'Will it be Caleb Williams or Drake May?' Simms allowed. "But there is a lot of good. He's definitely a high pick in the draft and he has skill and traits that we love in NFL quarterbacks."
"I think the first one is size. You know, he is a big dude. But I think my expectations were even more because I kept hearing, 'Oh, it's Josh Allen.' No, it's not Josh Allen. He's not Josh Allen in any categories as far as size, strength, arm, mobile. No. But that's comparing him to one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL... nobody can even argue that point."
"But the mobility was good," Simms allowed. "His size does come in comes in to periods where it really helps him because he can break arm tackles. They'll do that in the NFL, too, because he's big, has pretty good speed. But what else? His accuracy. It's good, but it's not great. It's not really good. It was just good. Right? So strong arm no doubt about it. And I saw throws where I go Wow that is top of the line of NFL stuff. And then I saw a lot of throws where I went Wow. How did you miss that? The football didn't have the right speed on it or things like that. His accuracy wasn't quite what I was expecting either."
This year's NFL combine tips off tomorrow in Indianapolis.
