Drake Maye Mentions Vikings One Day before Draft
Minnesota Vikings fans want Drake Maye as the franchise’s next quarterback.
Drake Maye Mentions Vikings One Day before Draft
It’s not that mysterious and is actually a viable possibility after Kirk Cousins left in free agency six weeks ago. If Minnesota can pull off a splashy trade on Thursday night — probably with the New England Patriots — Maye can become Viking.
And the man seems open to the relationship. After all, Minnesota’s current quarterback coach, Josh McCown, has high school ties to Maye, a now-well-documented facet of the Vikings’ draft lead-up.
Maye told the media this week, “Coach McCown, he coached me in high school. His two sons Owen and Aiden were some of my best friends in high school, we still play video games together.”
For over a year, Maye was the consensus No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft behind USC’s Caleb Williams, but then LSU’s Jayden Daniels came along, won a Heisman Trophy, and supplanted Maye on most big boards. Accordingly, Maye is quasi-attainable for Minnesota if it’s willing to pay the trade fee.
“Josh was great. He would go play on Sundays and then fly in and coach us on Friday nights. I’m thankful he’s in the NFL coaching quarterbacks, he’s a great mind and a great player,” Maye added.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler published a deep analysis of all quarterbacks in the upcoming draft last week, and Minnesota was specifically mentioned regarding Maye. “Multiple evaluators pointed out Minnesota is the perfect place for Maye in that regard, should the Vikings move up to get him. Scouts noted he’s smart, relaxed and even witty in interviews,” Fowler wrote.
In addition to J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, Maye has rapidly become a draft darling for Minnesota, so much so that fans believe the club’s choice on Thursday night is a binary choice between the two. McCarthy (+135) is the favorite among oddsmakers to land with the Vikings, while Maye isn’t too far behind (+500).
Meanwhile, six days before the 2024 NFL Draft, Vikings fans learned the primary source that would lead to Maye in purple is open for business. “We’re open to anything. Moving up, moving down. We’re open for business in the first round and every round,” de facto New England Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf said last Thursday.
If Minnesota is comfortable sending three 1st-Round picks — and whatever else it might take — to New England, Maye can be the target. He seems to like Minnesota’s infrastructure, mainly McCown.
In March, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis noted on the Vikings-Maye connection, “McCown’s presence is also useful because he can relate to veterans and has experience working with highly touted draftees (Sam Darnold, Jalen Hurts, Bryce Young, etc.). Another facet to consider: McCown coached North Carolina’s Drake Maye, whom the Vikings adore.”
So, it’s all there — out in the open. Maye likes the Vikings’ quarterback coach. Minnesota reportedly adores Maye. And the Patriots are at least open to the idea of a trade.
We shall see if Minnesota pulls the trigger on Thursday night.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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