Getty UNC QB Drake Maye.
The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the eighth in the 2024 NFL draft, putting them out of range of getting one of the top two quarterbacks. USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are widely expected to be selected within the first five picks.
If the Raiders are in the market to add a quarterback and they have their eyes on one of the top guys, the team would likely need to trade up. Dalton Miller of Pro Football Network pitched a trade that would send the Raiders’ 2024 first- and second-round picks along with a 2025 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft.
With this pick, Las Vegas would select Maye.
“Does this feel like a ton to give up? Yes, it absolutely does,” Miller wrote in a December 9 mock draft. “However, we saw the Texans trade a similar package a season ago for the same pick from No. 12, and they weren’t paying the quarterback tax.
“The Raiders have other needs, sure, but until they have a quarterback on the roster, the rest doesn’t mean much of anything. If Maye can develop into the player we believe he can be, they could trade their entire draft, and it would be worth it for a 15-year franchise QB.”
Is Drake Maye’s Draft Stock Falling?
Heading into the 2023 season, scouts were high on Maye. However, his production has dropped off a bit. After throwing for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions in 2022, his numbers weren’t nearly as striking in 2023. He threw for 3,608 yards with 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 12 starts for 8-4 Tar Heels (4-4 in conference play).
Expectations are still high for Maye. He’s got the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds. He can also make plays with his legs, rushing for 16 touchdowns combined across his final two seasons.
“He looks the part of a big-time NFL signal-caller,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. wrote in his December 8 draft rankings. “He can make every throw with ease. He’s accurate on the move and can pick up first downs with his legs. Maye varies his pass speeds really well — he knows when to take a little off to make it easier for his receivers. He has outstanding touch on vertical throws.”
Most mock drafts have Maye as second or third overall pick of the draft, along with Williams and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Drake Maye. 55 yards, no hitch, with pace.
Is This a Fair Trade for Drake Maye?
In Miller’s scenario, giving up four high draft picks to get an unproven quarterback would certainly be a big risk. The Carolina Panthers gave up a haul — including their 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-rounder — for the opportunity to select Bryce Young with the top in 2023. As a rookie, Young has not yet made a significant impact for the 1-12 Panthers.
The Raiders may not have a choice but to take a gamble. They are in a division with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, who are both under 30. Maye would give the Raiders a chance at having an elite quarterback, something they haven’t had since Rich Gannon retired in 2005.