Key Takeaways:
- 📈 UNC redshirt sophomore QB Drake Maye draft odds have shortened as he has thrown for over 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns so far this season.
- ✅ Maye is NFL draft eligible if he decides to turn pro after his third season in college.
- 🥇 USC Caleb Williams is considered the top QB in the upcoming class but he could remain in college for another season.
UNC QB Drake Maye (6'4, 230 lbs) is one of the best QB prospects to come out of the ACC since Clemson's Trevor Lawrence was taken No. 1 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. Could Maye join Lawrence and FSU's Jamies Winston as recent ACC quarterbacks taken with the first pick?
The 2024 NFL draft projections say that it's very possible. Maye is positioned to be the first pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
What are Drake Maye’s NFL Draft Odds in 2024?
Drake Maye's NFL Draft odds are set at +250 at both FanDuel and DraftKings North Carolina sportsbooks as UNC gets set to take on arch rival Duke this weekend.
USC QB Caleb Williams, the defending Heisman Trophy winner, is still the odds on favorite to be the first overall pick coming in at -360 at DraftKings and -320 at FanDuel.
What are Drake Maye’s odds of being Drafted No. 1?
Drake Maye's odds of being drafted No. 1 are +250. The top two prospects to be taken overall have a sizable odds difference over the rest of the field.
Caleb Williams and Maye are each other's main competition for the top spot in the 2024 NFL Draft. The next closest option is WR Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State all the way back at +2000.
2024 NFL Draft Odds: Odds to Go No. 1 Overall
These are the last 2024 NFL Draft odds, according to DraftKings North Carolina:
| 🥇 Caleb Williams | -360 |
| 🥈 Drake Maye | +250 |
| 🥉 Marvin Harrison Jr. | +2000 |
| 4️⃣ Quinn Ewers | +2500 |
| 5️⃣ Michael Penix Jr. | +2500 |
| ✅ Last Verified: | November 29, 2023 |
Favorites to Be First Pick in 2024 NFL Draft
2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is going to be tough to unseat as the top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. Not only is Williams a tremendous pocket passer, he has the speed that teams look for in the modern draft.
North Carolina QB Drake Maye has continued to develop into one of the best quarterback prospects in the Draft. As an ACC rookie in 2022, Maye was the second player in history to win ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year. He has not disappointed in 2023.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has caught 10 touchdowns so far this season for Ohio State and is seen as the best non-QB prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Drake Maye Draft Stats for 2024
Drake Maye redshirted his first year on campus in Chapel Hill, playing only 4 games. He dominated in 2022 and has continued to put up big numbers in 2023.
Maye thrown for 2,803 yards and 20 touchdowns through 9 games so far in 2023. He has thrown 5 interceptions but he is completing over 65% of his passes.
🎁 MORE: North Carolina Sportsbook Promos
Is Drake Maye Eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft?
Yes, Drake Maye will be eligible to leave college a year early and be drafted in 2024.
Will Drake Maye Enter the 2024 Draft?
While Drake Maye could stay in school for the 2024 season, it would be highly unusual for a QB prospect with the potential to go No. 1 overall to stay in school.
However, it's not a sure thing that Maye will turn pro after this season. He could return to UNC and be drafted in 2025. He hasn't indicated whether he will enter the 2024 draft or return to UNC for another season.
What Year is Drake Maye?
QB Drake Maye is a redshirt sophomore.
Latest Updates Impacting Drake Maye NFL Draft Odds
- 📅 Apr. 27-29, 2024: The 2014 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, MI.
- 📅 March 15, 2024: The NFL Free Agency window begins.
- 📅 Jan. 15, 2024: This is the deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for Special Eligibility for the draft
- 📅 Nov 25, 2023: UNC's regular season ends vs. NC State.
- 📅 Nov. 11, 2023: Maye takes on UNC's arch-rival Duke Blue Devils. The Duke odds to beat the Tar Heels are long.
- 📅 Nov 8, 2023: Drake Maye starts play as the second betting option for the first pick overall.
- 📅 Nov. 7, 2023: The latest UNC bowl projections have the Tar Heels at +150 to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to finish their season.
- 📅 Oct. 28, 2023: UNC odds to win the National Championship game move to +100000 following a 42-46 loss to Georgia Tech in which Maye threw for 310 yards and 2 TDs.
Where Can I Bet on Drake Maye NFL Draft Odds?
Since 2022, North Carolina sports betting has been available at three tribal casinos:
- 📍 Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC
- 📍 Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino in Murphy, NC
- 📍 Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, NC
You can go to any of these locations and place a bet on Drake Maye's NFL draft odds if available.
Starting in January 2024, online sports betting in North Carolina apps will be available—perfect timing for the 2024 NFL Draft.
2024 NFL Draft Projections
We are only halfway through the NFL season but we have a decent idea of which teams will be vying for the No. 1 pick in April's draft. Currently, the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers occupy last place in the league with only 1 victory on the season.
However, Arizona and Carolina both took QBs No. 1 overall in recent NFL Drafts. It would be hard to see either team drafting another QB. That would put the Patriots and Bears as potential landing spots for both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye this spring.
We still have a lot of football yet to be played to determine who has the No. 1 pick.
Which Team has the First Pick in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Right now, the Cardinals tentatively hold the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
At the time of writing, the 2-7 Chicago Bears, New York Giants, or New England Patriots would be looking to take a QB with their Top 5 pick. Arizona only has 1 win each but they have drafted QBs with the top pick overall recently and most likely would not draft another.
The team with the worst record in the NFL receives the top pick in NFL Draft following each season. Teams can either use the pick to draft a player or trade the pick. We won't know who has the No. 1 pick for a few more weeks.
Current Projected NFL Draft Order
As of this point in the college football season, here is where the Top 5 NFL Draft picks currently stand:
- Arizona Cardinals, 1-8
- Chicago Bears, 2-7
- Chicago Bears, 2-7
- New York Giants, 2-7
- New England Patriots, 2-7
Past No. 1 NFL Draft Picks Since 2010
All but four No. 1 picks since 2010 have been quarterbacks, which bodes well for Drake Maye draft odds:
| Year | Player | College | NFL Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | QB Bryce Young | Alabama | Panthers |
| 2022 | DE Travon Walker | Georgia | Jaguars |
| 2021 | QB Trevor Lawrence | Clemson | Jaguars |
| 2020 | QB Joe Burrow | LSU | Bengals |
| 2019 | QB Kyler Murray | Oklahoma | Cardinals |
| 2018 | QB Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma | Browns |
| 2017 | DE Myles Garrett | Texas A&M | Browns |
| 2016 | QB Jared Goff | Cal | Rams |
| 2015 | QB Jameis Winston | Florida State | Buccaneers |
| 2014 | DE Jadeveon Clowney | South Carolina | Texans |
| 2013 | OT Eric Fisher | Central Michigan | Chiefs |
| 2012 | QB Andrew Luck | Stanford | Colts |
| 2011 | QB Cam Newton | Auburn | Panthers |
| 2010 | QB Sam Bradford | Oklahoma | Rams |
Drake Maye Odds FAQs
UNC QB Drake Maye is +250 to be taken first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft at DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbooks. At both, he has the second-shortest odds to be the No. 1 overall pick behind USC QB Caleb Williams, who won the 2022 Heisman Trophy.
Yes, Drake Maye could be taken No. 1 overall if a team prefers his skillset over Caleb Williams'. There is also a chance that Williams stays in school for another year. If that happens, Maye would likely be the undisputed No. 1 pick.
As of Nov. 8, the 1-8 Arizona Cardinals would own the No. 1 in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears would own the Nos. 2 and 3 picks by virtue of their record and their trade with the Panthers last season. We don't know which team will definitely hold the No. 1 pick for a few more weeks.
Drake Maye is currently 21 years old, a redshirt sophomore at UNC. Maye was born on August 30, 2002, in Huntersville, North Carolina. If he's drafted in 2024, he will turn 22 just before the 2024-25 NFL season begins.
As of November, all signs point to Drake Maye declaring for the upcoming NFL draft. However, he has not indicated whether or not he'll leave UNC and declare for the NFL draft. We'll likely have to wait until the NCAA season officially ends.
Yes, Drake Maye is fast. According to NBC Sports, Maye has clocked a 4.65-second 40-yard dash. The 40-yard dash is typically the main measurement of QB speed used in the draft process. Maye has the ability to hurt defenses with his legs and can throw on the run.
Right now, both FanDuel and DraftKings have NFL Draft odds currently listed. Other sportsbooks will add the market as well soon. In North Carolina, you can visit one of the three retail tribal casinos to place a sports bet. Online sports betting in North Carolina is expected to go live in January of 2024.
The odds of getting into the NFL are long. Over a million high schoolers play football each year. Just 7.3% of high school players go on to compete at the college level. Of that player pool, just 1.6% of college football players go on to play in the NFL, according to NCAA data.
The NCAA estimates that 3.8% of draft-eligible Division I players are drafted into the NFL, and 6.8% of FBS players are drafted, according to 2019 data. Less than 2% of college football players make it onto an NFL roster.
Author
Matt Perrault is a sports gambling content creator based in Las Vegas. He has been working in the media for over 20 years in nearly every aspect of sports betting.
