Former star Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has taken University of North Carolina (UNC) quarterback Drake Maye under his wing as the prospect prepares to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Rivers, who has 10 children of his own, apparently doesn’t get enough of the mentor role at home as he’s now guiding the 21-year-old Maye, who is the same age as Rivers’ eldest daughter.
“Oh God, he’s one of the best,” Maye said of Rivers. “He’s just like one of my brothers. Loves to compete,” Maye told Schefter.
North Carolina QB Drake Maye, who is in Indianapolis for the combine this week and projected to be a top pick in the draft in April, has been spending time working with and learning from eight-time Pro-Bowl QB Philip Rivers.
🎧 https://t.co/qhzWPr4Vw4 pic.twitter.com/pDRfrwamY6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2024
Maye also revealed that the NC State Wolfpack alum, who retired from the NFL in 2020, has still got it.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 28: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels warms up prior to facing Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“He’s out there. We’re throwing six step battles, you know, a 10-yard drill throwing into the net. And uhh… shoot, he retired two or three years ago, and he still won the competition, so he’s just a competitor.”
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 15: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers drops back to pass during the first quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Maye, who many have projected to be a top three overall pick in the upcoming draft, has been dinged by a couple of high profile analysts in recent days. (RELATED: Reporter Provides Several Major NFL Updates, Where Superstar Players May End Up Gets Huge Shakeup)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 04: Ethan Quarshie #35 of the Campbell Fighting Camels sacks Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Former NFL running back Merril Hoge said Maye shouldn’t even be a first round pick, calling him “inconsistent” and “stiff.”
WOW…. UNC Drake Maye is NOT a 1st round pick, says Merril Hoge.
‘I would not touch Maye.’
“He’s extremely inconsistent. His processing inconsistent. He’s not extremely athletic. I find him more stiff. He got a longer throwing motion which allows more picks”
(Via @JunksRadio) pic.twitter.com/YTjDw86fUR
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 26, 2024
Former Packers QB Kurt Benkert called him a “more athletic Mason Rudolph with less arm Talent (and a lot less accuracy),” which, for those who aren’t familiar with Rudolph, is not a compliment.
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
But Maye said all the right things about his time with Rivers, proving he’s as willing to learn as anyone.
“Just trying to be a sponge, ask him questions, ask him what he likes. I think the biggest thing about Phil was he stayed healthy for so long through his career. You know, such a long career, I think he played 17 games for like, I don’t know, some crazy stat, 15 straight years or something.”
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 11: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels stiff-arms Jeremiah Lewis #39 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first overtime period at Kenan Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 47-45 in double overtime. Grant Halverson/Getty Images
True! Once Rivers won the Chargers starting job in 2006, he never missed a game again in 15 years. We likely won’t ever see that perfect picture of consistency ever again.
Rivers was a true legend in the NFL during my adolescence. Though it was my Giants who drafted him and promptly traded him to San Diego for our two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, I always liked and respected Rivers for his toughness and hilarious cuss-free trash talk.
Philip Rivers and his A+ trash talk are retiring from the NFL.
We’ll miss it.
(via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/2xjMkBGWfl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 20, 2021
