For me personally, Drake Maye from North Carolina is my number two quarterback in this class behind (USC’s) Caleb Williams,” Brugler said in an exclusive conversation with Commander Country. “I think when you look at the full package of skills, he’s just three years removed from high school. He’s still just 21 years old but what he’s been able to do, especially the last two years, he’s the only college quarterback over the last two years that has over 9,000 total yards. He does it with his arm, does it with his legs…he is one of the best third-down players in this class with this ability to work outside the pocket.”
Like everyone else, Brugler also acknowledges Maye isn’t a finished project coming out of North Carolina and will need some time to develop into a full-fledged NFL quarterback.
But his tape – the same tape NFL evaluators use to make these complex decisions – is what Brugler leans on to support his selection. And there are things in Maye’s film that support a theory the draft analyst swears by to this day. One that, if true, certainly makes this quarterback one coach Dan Quinn would get along with very well.
“I’m a big believer in the older brother theory where when you grew up with older brothers, you’re just a little bit more competitive,” Brugler said. “You got this toughness to him, you have this edge to you. And with Drake Maye, he has three older brothers who all played high-level college athletics, I mean, he was always playing up a level growing up, and his whole family says that he grew up in a family of athletes. His whole family says he’s the most competitive of the group, so I think he’s cut from the same cloth as (Los Angeles Chargers quarterback) Justin Herbert. I think a lot of expectations are similar with these two players. So for me, Drake may would be that guy.”