ESPN: Analyst discusses shifting draft stocks of quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye

In a column released Friday morning, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller documented how Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy and North Carolina Tar Heels signal-caller Drake Maye have effectively traded spots in terms of how some assess the prospects moving into April.

“One of the most interesting nuggets I’ve picked up over the past two weeks is that multiple NFL teams have McCarthy ranked ahead of North Carolina’s Drake Maye,” Miller explained. “A high-ranking evaluator I spoke to this week said McCarthy’s winning résumé, upside as a mobile QB and impeccable poise under pressure all graded out higher for them than Maye. When under pressure last season, McCarthy completed an FBS-best 68% of his passes and averaged 10 yards per attempt (second-best).”

McCarthy’s draft ranking skyrocketed, making it one of the most intriguing NFL stories of March. While he began the month ranked fourth in a slew of quarterback prospect rankings behind Maye (second or third), Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers (second or third), and Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans (first), some now believe the Washington Commanders will select McCarthy with the second overall pick.

ESPN NFL pundit and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky has frequently raised eyebrows by claiming that Daniels, not Williams, is the top quarterback prospect in this year’s selection. Others have stated that Maye should sit as a rookie and focus on facets of his game, such as footwork.

According to Greg Dudek of NESN, Orlovsky praised Maye during Thursday’s edition of the ESPN “NFL Live” program after the North Carolina product impressed during a pro day workout.

“The thing I was looking for the most was… how were his feet going to look? Those definitely looked much improved when it came to just the rhythm of him throwing rather than the natural talent and athleticism of him throwing,” Orlovsky said about Maye. 

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson and Chris Trapasso are among many who continue to foresee Maye as the third quarterback picked on April 25th, behind Williams and Daniels.

Wilson and Trapasso do not appear to be buying McCarthy’s hype, but new Commanders general manager Adam Peters may be sold on the national champion in about a month.