MAYE A MITCH FAN, BUT HE’S NOT A COPY
INDIANAPOLIS — Drake Maye isn’t Mitch Trubisky, even if they both wore Carolina blue — and the No. 10 jersey — in college.
“I think a lot of people, they analyze based off the helmet,” Maye, who’s projected to be a top-three pick, said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think we’re different players and different people. At the same time, I’m a big fan of Mitch.”
Trubisky wished Maye luck before the start of his junior season and has popped down to his alma mater a few times. Maye said that North Carolina quarterbacks stick together.
“Mitch had some great years in Chicago — especially that one year [in 2018],” he said. “I remember him making the playoffs and playing well.”
The Bears drafted Trubisky second overall in 2017. History is unlikely to repeat itself this year. The Bears hold the first overall pick and are likely to take USC’s Caleb Williams with it.
Maye met with the Bears this week but didn’t get the impression they knew him well.
“Got in there and let them know who I am,” he said. “I don’t think they knew much about me. Just show what I got and who I am and kinda speak to some of the plays and some of the tape.”
Asked later to clarify, Maye said that Bears scouts went to some of his games and practices. He didn’t go to the Senior Bowl, so he couldn’t meet with them there.
“I’m a junior,” he said, “so they probably haven’t seen me as long.”
J.J. LOVES SOLDIER
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a national champion — and a Bears fan. On Friday, the La Grange Park native was open about his desire to play on the lakefront, one way or the other.
“It’s one of the dreams of mine, whether I’m playing for the Bears or against them,” he said. “Soldier Field, one of the oldest stadiums in America.”
He had a formal interview with the Bears this week.
“It was awesome watching tape with them and going over our plays a little bit,” the Nazareth Academy grad said. “[The Bears] got me up on the board to retain some information. I did pretty well.”
McCarthy is expected to be drafted in Round 1, likely — at least for now — as the fourth quarterback taken.
THIS AND THAT
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was asked about the Bears and said little, offering that he liked talking football with the teams with whom he has met.
“I just want to go to the best situation, whether that’s the first pick or 32nd pick,” the reigning Heisman Trophy winner said.
† McCarthy said that playing against former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh twice a year — say, on the Raiders — would be fun. Harbaugh left Michigan for the Chargers.
“It would be a little interesting, looking across the field and seeing them in the baby blue,” he said. “Yeah, there definitely would be some nice emotional hugs afterward.”
† Washington quarterback Michael Penix said he’s healthy enough to allay concerns about his history. He tore his ACL twice and hurt each shoulder in college.
‘‘That’s a big reason why I came back for this last season — to have another fully healthy season and show that I’m ready to compete and can do it at the next level,” said Penix, who lost to McCarthy in the national title game. “At this point, I can’t control if there are still questions about the injury history.” ✶