ARIZONA CARDINALS

As Cardinals settle in NFL standings, Drake Maye rises and Caleb Williams falls in mock drafts

Nov 2, 2023, 12:03 PM

Drake Maye, North Carolina...

Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks to pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Arizona Cardinals are one of two one-win teams eight weeks into the 2023 NFL season and have the worst record by percentage.

Kyler Murray should be incoming this week or the next, and that figures to improve Arizona’s chances at winning moving forward.

But as they are, the Cardinals have strong odds to own the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, where it was long believed to be worth tanking for USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams. The Cardinals have settled at the bottom of the standings nearly halfway through the year, but Williams suddenly isn’t the sure-fire pick to go No. 1 overall.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye has narrowed the gap and, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler and Yahoo! Sports’ Charles McDonald, is the top prospect.

Brugler has Maye atop his big board.

Cut from the same cloth as Justin Herbert, Maye (2,559 yards passing, 22 total TDs) continues to impress with his on-field command despite inconsistent help around him. A tall, well-put-together athlete, he has an explosive release with the touch to threaten every level of the field.

He still makes a few more reckless decisions than you’d want, but his timing has improved, and his aggressive decision-making is more of a strength than a weakness.

Brugler has had Maye and Williams close in his evaluations for a while.

It was never fair, he argues, to call Williams a “generational” talent.

Williams’ situation at USC has made for a season of relative struggles, if a 68% completion rate and 25-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio are worth complaining about. Writes Brugler:

Williams is fantastic at navigating chaos, but he does hold the ball too long at times. Often he has no choice, either because a defense gets immediate pressure with its front four or his receivers haven’t created separation. And when that happens, Williams feels forced to put on the superhero cape, which can lead to negative plays.

With the bar set so high, it can be easy to call Williams “overrated” after a mistake, but let’s not lose sight of his tremendous strengths as a player.

McDonald tabs Maye higher than Williams on a mock draft, with the UNC product going to the Cardinals at No. 1 overall.

This may be a surprise, but Maye isn’t a consolation prize for teams that don’t get Caleb Williams. He’s a bona fide prospect worthy of the first overall draft pick with huge upside, and his floor might be higher than Williams’ based on recent games. The Cardinals still have to make a decision on Kyler Murray, but if they trade him, Maye makes a lot of sense.

Of course, the trade deadline passed with Arizona shipping off this year’s only starting quarterback, Joshua Dobbs, to the Minnesota Vikings.

By the looks of it, Murray has a very real shot to show the Cardinals’ new regime that he is the quarterback of the future. If he does so, it will make them think hard about what to do with the first-round draft pick — and that of the Houston Texans (3-4).

Should Murray look like the difference-maker he’s been, Arizona will likely not earn that top overall choice in 2024. But lingering in the top-five will still lead to bountiful things, whether it’s Maye, Williams or Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. still being there when they select.

Arizona Cardinals

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Is Kyler Murray playing the best football of his career?

With three consecutive wins under the Arizona Cardinals' belt, Wolf & Luke take a closer look to consider if quarterback Kyler Murray is playing the best football of his career.

1 hour ago

Baron Browning...

Tyler Drake

What is Baron Browning’s game status for Cardinals in Week 10?

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team is still evaluating whether trade acquisition and pass rusher Baron Browning will be active this week.

1 hour ago

Arizona Cardinals DL Darius Robinson looks on during training camp...

Tyler Drake

No setbacks for Cardinals’ Darius Robinson; Matt Prater, Jonah Williams ‘itching’ to return

Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Darius Robinson has not suffered any kind of setback as he continues to work back to full strength from a calf injury.

2 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: Can Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals answer the call Sunday vs. the New York Jets?

Dan Bickley gives the Arizona Cardinals midseason grades across the field and ponders if quarterback Kyler Murray can lead this team past Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.

3 hours ago

New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers looks on. The Jets take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10....

Tyler Drake

Cardinals far from underestimating Aaron Rodgers, Jets despite record

The Arizona Cardinals aren't overlooking a New York Jets team led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers despite their 3-6 mark.

17 hours ago

Cardinals...

Arizona Sports

Cardinals injury report: Jalen Thompson limited Thursday ahead of Jets matchup

Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson was limited with an ankle injury on Thursday ahead of the team hosting the New York Jets on Sunday. 

20 hours ago

As Cardinals settle in NFL standings, Drake Maye rises and Caleb Williams falls in mock drafts