MERRIL HOGE RIPS 'MARGINAL' TOP NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK PROSPECT

Drake Maye will likely be one of the first players off the board in Thursday night's NFL Draft. Merril Hoge doesn't think the North Carolina quarterback is worth the lofty investment.

Earlier this month, Hoge called Maye "the kind of player that will get you fired." He doubled down Wednesday on WEEI's The Gresh & Fauria Show.

With the New England Patriots in place to potentially pick Maye at No. 3, Maye warned listeners of the Boston radio station that Maye is "marginal at best."

Hoge said that even when Maye played well, citing his performance in a win at Pittsburgh last September, the former ESPN analyst didn't see a "difference-maker" worthy of a top-three pick.

"The inconsistency in throwing the football and processing, and that’s just some of the problems," Hoge said, via NESN. "There’s a whole litany of things you have to correct."

Responding to anyone who'd argue that an NFL team can address his flaws, Hoge countered that coaches can't fix inaccuracy and predicted that defense will "expose" his weaknesses.

"If you’re not an accurate passer, you’re an inconsistent passer, that is going to be magnified in the National Football League."

Given his size and strong throwing arm, Maye has drawn some comparisons to Josh Allen. However, Hoge said he's "not even close" to the Buffalo Bills star.

"There’s nothing, like nothing," Hoge said. "But that’s what people are going to expect."

Hoge believes that the Patriots, or anyone else who drafts Maye in the first round, would regret the decision.

"That guy can set you back five years in the organization based on all the issues that he had in college, and that will be magnified in the National Football League."

2024-04-25T03:13:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd