The 2023 college football season hasn’t even started yet but the buzz for the 2024 NFL draft surrounding quarterbacks Drake Maye and Caleb Williams continues to heat up.
The two quarterbacks are not only the top players at their position but arguably the two best prospects in the entire draft. Williams is projected by many to go No. 1 overall with Maye following right behind him, likely in the top 3.
As we get set for the upcoming season, NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah wrote on Maye as a prospect, covering a few different topics. Among the topics covered was the quarterback that Maye reminds him of the most.
His answer? Former USC standout and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer:
There isn’t a perfect comparison that comes to mind after studying Maye. The closest comp would probably be former Bengals, Raiders and Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. Both guys have all the desired traits: size, arm strength, mobility and accuracy. Palmer arrived in the NFL in 2003 with cleaner/crisper footwork, while Maye is a better overall athlete. I had the chance to see a lot of Palmer while working for the Ravens for much of his time with the Bengals. He was exceptionally talented and put together a very impressive 14-year career, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl. Palmer took a big leap in his final year at USC, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Trojans to an Orange Bowl victory. I’m excited to see if Maye can make a similar leap this fall.
That’s an interesting comp for Maye as Palmer was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and had flashes in his NFL career before suffering injuries.
It’s easy to see the comps as well, especially with what Jeremiah notes in the arm strength, accuracy, mobility and size.
Maye will lead the Tar Heels into action in primetime in Week 1 as they take on South Carolina in Charlotte.
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