Former NFL player Merril Hoge not impressed by Drake Maye: 'He's marginal at best'

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Merril Hoge directed some sharply pointed criticism toward NFL Draft prospect Drake Maye.

While Maye is widely projected to hear his name called at some point during the first ten picks Thursday night, Hoge is not sold on the quarterback's ability to play at a high level once he reaches the NFL.  

"He’s marginal at best," Hoge said during a recent appearance on New England sports radio station WEEI.

Hoge pointed to Maye's inconsistent play during his time at North Carolina, suggesting it could be one of the reasons the quarterback will not excel in the NFL.

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Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs the ball in a game against the Syracuse Orange at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct 7, 2023.  (David Jensen/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"Inconsistency alone, the inconsistency in throwing the football and processing, that’s just some of the problems," Hoge added. "There’s a whole litany of things you have to correct."

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The New England Patriots hold the third overall pick in this year's draft, and Maye has been linked to the team. 

Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated reported that the Patriots hosted Maye for a pre-draft visit. The team also met with Maye at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and sent representatives to his pro day in Chapel Hill.

Merril Hoge speaks on SiriusXM at the Super Bowl Feb. 8, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Hoge also asserted his belief that while certain aspects of a player's game can