Carolina QB Drake Maye perks up when asked about Falcons meeting
The Atlanta Falcons were the first team that Carolina quarterback and top draft prospect Drake Maye met with at the 2024 NFL Combine. When asked how that meeting went, Maye perked up and sounded extra excited. "The Falcons, shoot, Atlanta I was really impressed," Maye told reporters on Friday. "Actually the 1st team I met […]
The Atlanta Falcons were the first team that Carolina quarterback and top draft prospect Drake Maye met with at the 2024 NFL Combine.
When asked how that meeting went, Maye perked up and sounded extra excited.
"The Falcons, shoot, Atlanta I was really impressed," Maye told reporters on Friday. "Actually the 1st team I met with here at the combine and the familiarity with former Tar Heel and current QB coach T.J. Yates made it really fun! Loves the new regime with Coach Morris and it was an enjoyable visit."
The Falcons currently hold the eighth overall pick in this year's NFL Draft and it's possible they could be after Maye with their obvious need for a quarterback.
Maye is projected to go off the draft board in the first round, though he's not expected to be selected before USC's Caleb Williams or LSU's Jayden Daniels so there's a chance he's available at No. 8.
The Carolina product will join Williams and Daniels in not throwing in front of NFL evaluators at the Combine but that won't hurt his chances of being a top pick.
Instead of showing off his on-field skills, Maye is focused on building relationships off of the field at the Combine.
"I think one of the best things I do is try to create relationships and get along with a lot of different people so just try to use that to my advantage and also just show my skillset off the field not just on,” Maye told ESPN's Adam Schefter this week. “I think kind of the film speaks for itself in this process for any player going into the draft, so just letting them get to know me and be authentic through it. But other than that, like I said, a big part of it is being in uncomfortable situations and being able to handle that.”
Maye isn't wrong in saying his film at Carolina speaks for itself. He threw for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2023 after achieving an impressive 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2022.
The Falcons would thrive with a pocket passer as efficient as Maye if they choose to go that route.
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Atlanta take notes.
