The Green Bay Packers have found their franchise quarterback in Jordan Love, and one team in the 2024 NFL Draft might find that Drake Maye is their long-term answer at the position.
In a recent appearance on Get Up!, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid shared his thoughts on Maye’s pre-draft process. He even went as far as comparing Maye’s experience heading into the draft to Love’s coming out of Utah State in 2020.
“His pre-draft process reminds me a lot of Jordan Love coming out of Utah St.,” Reid posted to X after the appearance.
Maye has seen his stock fall throughout the pre-draft process despite still being No. 2 on the consensus big board. Rumors are even swirling that Maye could be the fourth QB taken.
If that’s the case, a team could be getting a steal in Maye.
Jordan Love’s Path to Stardom
Things may seem great for Love now, but it wasn’t always that way.
Love was one of the more fascinating prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. His only FBS offer was to Utah State coming out of high school despite being a 3-star recruit. He developed into a star for the Aggies, especially in 2018. He finished that year throwing for a school record 3,567 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
However, a dip in production in Love’s final college season called his pro prospects into question. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein even noted that in his evaluation while comparing Love to Blake Bortles.
“Challenging evaluation for quarterback-needy teams balancing traits and potential against disappointing 2019 tape,” Zierlein wrote. “His size, mobility and arm talent combined with his 2018 flashes could be a winning hand that leads a team into the future or a siren’s song of erratic play and unfulfilled potential.”
The Packers banked on Love’s traits, trading up for him in the 2020 NFL Draft. The move may not have set well with Aaron Rodgers at the time, but it gave Love time to sit back and learn from a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Sitting and waiting panned out for Love. In his first season as a starter, Love finished second in the NFL with 32 passing touchdowns, then posted a 108.6 passer rating in two playoff games.
The move has allowed the Packers to start building a future around Love instead of taking swings on quarterbacks in multiple drafts. Now, Packers fans have their sights set on a Super Bowl run in 2024.
Drake Maye May Be Forced Into Starting
Not every quarterback gets to sit and learn behind a superstar like Love did. In fact, Maye might be forced into being a Week 1 starter.
It’s unclear who will draft Maye at the moment. However, the Washington Commanders or New England Patriots both have a big need at quarterback. If either team drafts Maye, they may not have the luxury of waiting to let him develop.
That’s a concern given Maye’s skill set. For as talented and athletic as he is, Maye will need time to adjust to reading NFL defenses. His mechanics and accuracy also need some refinement, which can take time.
Maye would benefit from a year or two to develop behind an established veteran. Unfortunately, impatient owners, front offices, and coaching staffs make it hard for top-tier prospects like him to sit and develop.
As similar as their pre-draft processes have been, Love and Maye will likely have very different experiences in their first few seasons in the league.
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