Charles Davis NFL Mock Draft 2024: J.J. McCarthy to Patriots, Drake Maye Falls to 11

There's always at least one prospect who ends up spending more time in the green room than expected during the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. And North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye might be drawing the short straw this year.

NFL Network's Charles Davis had Maye falling to the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 11 overall pick in his newest mock draft. The New England Patriots, who own the No. 3 overall pick, opted instead for Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

That's an inversion on the general consensus.

Much of the predraft discourse has grouped Maye together with USC's Caleb Williams and LSU's Jayden Daniels. Then McCarthy is almost in a tier by himself before you get to the next best prospects at the position.

Maye is the No. 3 overall player on Bleacher Report's final big board, with McCarthy coming in at No. 33.

Based on a recent report, the Wolverines signal-caller is under consideration by the Patriots in the top five, though. ESPN's Mike Reiss wrote Sunday the "most likely scenario" for New England is holding onto the third pick and taking Daniels, Maye or McCarthy.

Should Maye fall out of the top 10, the warning signs were there.

The Athletic's Ben Standig spoke to a quarterbacks coach in March who views the Tar Heels standout as a project QB.

"I like Maye, but when I see the amount of work it will take to have him reach his potential, we'll be fired first," the coach said.

On Tuesday, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic cited a QB coach who said they wouldn't use a top-10 pick on Maye, while a scout raised concerns over his accuracy and mechanics.

Absent more developments, you'd still expect Maye to be the second or third quarterback off the board Thursday. A draft-day tumble wouldn't be coming from nowhere, though.