Minnesota Vikings Focused on Moving Up in the Draft for Drake Maye
North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
With the NFL Draft looming just weeks ahead, rumors are ablaze, particularly concerning the Minnesota Vikings and its quarterback plan following Kirk Cousins' departure in free agency.
There's growing momentum behind the idea that General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is eager to trade up and secure North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
“The Vikings appear to be focusing on [Drake] Maye at this point,” Editor-in-Chief Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride.com said. “New quarterbacks coach Josh McCown has a long history with Maye, as he provided advice after watching Maye’s game film as a schoolboy quarterback at Myers Park (North Carolina) High School.
Despite experiencing a statistical decline in completion percentage, yards, touchdowns, and yards per attempt, Maye remains highly regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Standing at 6-foot-4, the former Tar Heel possesses the prototypical size that Kevin O’Connell may be seeking to fit his offensive scheme.
“He’s big and mobile and can sling it around but he didn’t play consistent football,” An AFC Personnel Director said of Maye’s 2023 performance. “I thought his processing was a problem but it was hard to tell sometimes because of how his line played in front of him.”
He closed out the last season with Pro Football Focus grades of 83.8 for intermediate passing and 96.8 for deep passing, marking above-average and elite grades. With Cousins’ ranking fifth in the NFL last season for intermediate throw percentage, accuracy in this area is likely pivotal for O'Connell when selecting his next quarterback.
Maye's precision in throwing over the middle has drawn praise from scouts, who highlight his tight spirals and impressive velocity. Additionally, he's recognized as a bold passer, willing to fit the ball into tight windows, and demonstrates disciplined pocket movement, continually seeking out open targets.
Maye experienced regression last season after losing multiple receivers and offensive linemen to the NFL Draft. However, his impressive 2022 debut as a first-year starter, where he completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,321 yards, threw 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while also rushing for 698 yards and seven touchdowns, is why there's still significant belief in his potential at the next level.
While Minnesota may have Maye as its preferred choice in the draft, securing him would likely require the New England Patriots being open to trade negotiations, which currently doesn't seem to be the case. Given Maye's high draft stock, it's almost imperative to trade up into the top three selections, as it's unlikely that he'll still be available at No. 11.
If O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah are set on Maye as the team’s future franchise quarterback, it will come with a hefty price tag. Moving up from No. 11 to No. 3 in the draft is expected to require at least three first-round picks and possibly some mid-round selections as well.
It remains to be seen if Maye will ultimately land in Minnesota, but early reports suggest that the team is gearing up for an aggressive pursuit in finding Cousins' successor. The team seems determined not to settle and plans to go to great lengths to secure the quarterback they desire most.
