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Ex-ESPN Analyst Provides Broncos a Word of Caution on Drake Maye
The Denver Broncos have as big decision to make on April 25.
Perhaps due, in part, to the rapid rise of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the draft stock of North Carolina's Drake Maye is fluctuating. Former ESPN analyst Merril Hoge is indulging in some pretty vocal storytelling as it relates to the 21-year-old Maye.
"Drake Maye is the kind of player that will get you fired," Hoge declared during an interview with WCCO radio earlier this month. " Especially if you draft him in the top 5 or top 3, he's going to get you fired."
Indeed, a swing and miss on a highly drafted quarterback can doom any previously successful head coach. Denver Broncos boss Sean Payton knows he must make the right decision for not only his own legacy but also for the future of the franchise.
Trading up for any of the top 4 QB prospects will only add to the levels of pressure, and despite Hoge's overtly blatant skepticism, that elite list of young gunslingers still includes Maye. History tells us that negative talk can go viral rather quickly, as the draft process thrives on such energy.
Hoge pulled no punches when he weighed in on the weaknesses he's identified within Maye's game. That includes his own prediction that Maye won't survive the more physically demanding pro game, especially if he fails to make better decisions with his body.
"People think his athleticism will translate but people want him to run and they will bust him up," Hoge predicted. "He is not athletic enough. If he doesn't get down and learn how to do that, he won't last until Week 10."
Given the conundrum the Broncos face with the 12th overall selection, they'd be extremely grateful if another top quarterback slide came to pass on Draft Day. But Payton and company have to trust their scouting reports, so tuning out Hoge's fear-mongering will be of paramount importance moving forward.
In fairness to Hoge, he's not exactly shooting from the hip in the hope that somehow he hits the target. Pointing towards how Malik Willis' spectacular draft slide to the Tennessee Titans in 2021 has been largely proven correct, the former NFL fullback has provided some corroborative evidence to support his Maye theory.
"Willis might be the only guy that I can think of that is as erratic as Maye," Hoge 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 ever seen from a guy who is supposed to be an elite franchise quarterback. ... He's erratic. He's everywhere."
Despite Hoge espousing some heavy doomsday scenarios, nobody is expecting the negative buzz to lead to Maye going through the same excruciating green room plummet that Aaron Rodgers experienced way back in 2005. That being said, the odds are one of the top quarterback prospects is going to look rather flustered on April 25 when his name doesn't get called as early as he might have hoped.
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