Drake Maye fits the prototype size for an NFL quarterback. He is athletic for his size, has good speed, and is thus capable of gaining yards with his legs, presenting a ground threat that opposing defenses must account for, even if he can't do it consistently. He has enough quickness to create plays outside of the structure, although I will revisit this point later.

Maye has an NFL-caliber arm, capable of off-platform throws with elite throwing mechanics, even though there are a few points that need refinement. From an upper body perspective, there's not much to criticize: his shoulders are perfectly aligned, torso rotation is clean, and the fundamental mechanics are in place. The main issue is with his release because, unlike others, his mechanics include a slight downward arc, which causes a delay in the ball's release but allows him to generate more power. As you might know, I place significant importance on a quarterback's footwork because it forms a large percentage of the foundation for a good throw. Drake Maye has work to do in this area. Due to his total upper body relaxation (which is generally positive), he struggles to dissociate his upper and lower body, which prevents him from developing elite footwork.

Maye can throw accurately and with velocity at all three levels, but sometimes he struggles to combine ball touch and velocity simultaneously, likely due to the aforementioned issues with dissociation and footwork. Maye is capable of elite ball placement, able to target outside the numbers with precision. He has a strong ability to throw balls where only the receiver can make a play. While I've seen several such throws miss, it's important to note that the cornerback could do absolutely nothing; only the receiver had a chance to make the play. Improving his footwork should also help stabilize these occasional lapses in accuracy.

Regarding pocket navigation, Maye showed progress in 2023, but it remains inconsistent, especially under pressure. The primary way for him to improve in this area is to work on his footwork. I've observed slight balance issues with Maye because he doesn't have a solid base and sufficient grounding, with his feet tending to cross over, which can cause delays in his throwing mechanics and decision-making. He can create plays within the pocket and escape from high-pressure situations, but his performance outside the structure remains inconsistent. He heavily relies on his legs and still encounters problems with throwing when rolling out. to the left, Maye is very hesitant because he struggles to achieve good coordination that would allow him to adjust better, affecting both his lower and upper body movements.

Maye has a very good pre-snap process but a slightly more inconsistent post-snap process. He reads defenses well and knows how to adjust his offense based on what is presented. He has a strong understanding of defenses, even when they disguise their coverage in zone 2, 3, or 4. What best characterizes his good reads is his ability to anticipate very well, even on unscripted throws, meaning throws on routes that are, for example, aborted and where the receiver must improvise. However, I would have liked to see better readings of safeties and especially improved progression in this area in 2023.
He consistently performs full-field reads, which is quite rare for a college exit. When given the time, his decision-making is elite, and he is always capable of creating off-script plays if the pocket collapses.

Drake Maye is the QB1 on my board; he has all the tools to become an elite pocket passer in the NFL, but there is work to be done on his footwork and out-of-structure throws if he wants to extend plays and be a constant passing threat, not just with his legs. Maye operated in a very simple system in college football, so there will be a significant transition to the NFL. That's why I'd prefer to see him on the bench in his first season, especially since he will only be 22 years old during his rookie year (I nearly always recommend this for rookie QBs, but occasionally the transition can be smoother, as with CJ Stroud of the Texans, who fell into a good team, was well-coached, and came from a more developed system at Ohio State compared to Maye's). The fact that Maye produced behind a weak offensive line and in his last year with only one receiver of decent caliber is very reassuring to me. 
I evaluate Drake Maye as a top 10 talent and a potential 1st pick of the draft.