CJ Stroud and Drake Maye (via IMAGO)

The first round of the NFL Draft wrapped up earlier yesterday and as was expected, the bright quarterback class of 2024 stole the highlights in Round 1. A lot of teams got their franchise quarterbacks, especially the teams with the top 3 picks in the draft. CJ Stroud, who was in the same position this time around last year made a guest appearance on Bleacher Report’s live draft analysis show.

Stroud shared his perspective on the quarterback class of 2024. While the fan favorite is Caleb Williams, Stroud has another QB he believes has the most potential, that is Drake Maye. The quarterback from NC State was the third pick and the new franchise QB for the New England Patriots. The QB1 for the Texans has analyzed his game and talent.

My favorite QB in the draft…I feel like Drake Maye is…I watched his tape, just his arm talent jumps off, he’s the one guy that like to me…when you watch his tape, he scrambles when he needs to, he throws guys open, he has roll-out ability, different arm angles…

CJ Stroud said

Stroud sees a lot of elements that transition well from college football to the NFL in Maye’s game.

CJ Stroud believes Drake Maye’s decision making skills will work greatly in the NFL

The quarterback for the Houston Texans is vouching for Maye because of his arm strength and accuracy. Combine his ability to run the ball when needed, he is the perfect dual-threat quarterback. Stroud further went on to appreciate the NC State QB for his decision-making skills.

In the NFL, more than possessing talent and skills, the decision making ability of a player is what ultimately determines if they can succeed in the league or not. For a college QB transitioning to the NFL, the biggest learning curve comes in terms of determining when to take risks and when to play it safe.

CJ Stroud has watched Drake Maye play and he believes that the QB does not make the mistake of taking unnecessary risks. He throws the ball when he needs to and never scrambles unless he sees an open route.

A factor about Maye that tends to be overlooked is the agility of his arm, he is able to make throws from certain absurd angles and convert on them. For these reasons, he is the real deal and in many ways why he could go on to be the best QB of his class.