Drake Maye Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Former NFL QB compares North Carolina's Drake Maye to Mason Rudolph

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 2/26/24

Mason Rudolph was one heck of a college quarterback, so there's no shame in being compared to the quarterback who tore it up for Oklahoma State for four seasons before being taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 76th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

To be compared to Rudolph as an NFL prospect, though? That's a bit harsh considering the fact that he's only played in 21 games since being drafted.

Rudolph looks like a career backup, which, all told, is not an insult. It can be a profitable career, and lead to a Super Bowl ring. But for someone like North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye? That kind of comparison is a bit damning considering some consider Maye a potential top-five overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

That's apparently not how former NFL backup quarterback turned commentator Kurt Benkert sees it though. In fact, when he watches Maye play, he sees Rudolph.

Just finished my Drake Maye review.

He’s a more athletic Mason Rudolph with less arm Talent (and a lot less accuracy).

He has a lot of backyard football in his game but doesn’t have the athletic upside that I think it requires to live in that world as often as he does.

He’s…
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) February 26, 2024

Does that sound like a quarterback who should go top five overall? Of course not, and if you're an executive for the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots or Arizona Cardinals, this type of scouting report would be very alarming.

Of course, it should be noted that Benkert isn't a professional scout, but he does know a thing or two about being an NFL quarterback. Plenty of those "in the know" consider Maye a top-five pick, and that includes Pro Football Talk, Daniel Jeremiah and Mel Kiper Jr.

With that said, plenty of top-five quarterback prospects have failed in the NFL, so it will be interesting to look back at Maye's career in five years and see who was right.

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