NFL Analyst Disparages Potential Patriots QB of the Future

The 2024 NFL Draft is roughly two months away. The New England Patriots are set to select third overall. Betting odds have New England taking a quarterback with their top choice. It would give the Patriots a new “face of the franchise” and a quarterback to pair with head coach Jerod Mayo to usher in a new era of football in Foxboro. New England will not be drafting North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the pick. At least not if they pay attention to NFL analyst Merril Hoge.

Hoge was a guest on The Herd with Colin Cowherd and was asked about his feelings on the UNC QB.

“I don’t think I’ve yet to see him execute a pressure correctly,” said Hoge. “Identify it, oftentimes he misses it.”

The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back went on to discuss Drake Maye’s processing and how poor it was, specifically when it came to identifying pressure. But the mental aspect of Maye’s game wasn’t the only issue that concerned Hoge.

“He is completely erratic when it comes to throwing the football. I mean it is a big concern.”

Merril Hoge didn’t think this was a fixable situation. Despite Drake Maye doing “just enough to dazzle you” he states these erratic throws get magnified, not fixed, when quarterbacks head to the NFL.

Not only would Hoge not pick Drake Maye with a top three pick, “I wouldn’t give him a first-round grade,” he concluded. “I wouldn’t take him in the first round.”

Fortunately for Drake Maye, Merril Hoge is not currently the general manager of any NFL franchises. Regardless of Hoge’s appraisal, it would remain a huge surprise for Maye to last beyond third in April’s draft. Also fortunate for Drake Maye, Merril Hoge is the same analyst who believed Brian Brohm to be a superior prospect to Aaron Rodgers.