In today’s Fact or Fiction — NFL Draft edition — I look at three big recent topics around the NFL Draft and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
1. Drake Maye could go No. 1 overall.
Farrell’s take: FACT
I’m telling you, this could easily happen. While Caleb Williams is an exceptional talent, more and more folks in the NFL I talk to worry about his attitude and demeanor. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray were coddled QBs under Lincoln Riley, who didn’t have the maturity to lead a franchise as a No. 1 pick, and Williams has major red flags in that department. Drake Maye has none of those issues, and his talent level isn’t far removed from Williams. The Chicago Bears will trade down from No. 1, but I hear they don’t want to trade too far down as they want Marvin Harrison Jr. but not at the No. 1 price. So if New England or Arizona want to move up and grab a QB then Maye could be that guy.
2. JJ McCarthy will go top 10.
Farrell’s take: FACT
After Maye and Williams, it’s anyone’s guess who will be QB3, but McCarthy has a lot of fans in the NFL. He’s a good kid, has mobility and arm talent, and he works in a pro-friendly system. While Michael Penix Jr. has the bigger arm and better stats, and Jayden Daniels has the elite mobility, McCarthy is looked at as a safer pick who could have a Kirk Cousins kind of career, according to some I spoke to. The Bears, with a Jim Harbaugh hire, would be a fit or the Vegas Raiders, but as we know, some teams will also trade up to get on top of the QB dominoes. I like McCarthy, but I don’t see top-10 talent here. Nut the NFL need at QB will bypass that.
3. Joe Alt will be the first OL taken.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
Olu Fashanu will be the top lineman taken, according to most I talk to, but Alt won’t be far behind at No. 2. The Washington Commanders and New York Jets will take an OT in the top 10, and he will likely land in NYC to protect Aaron Rodgers.
