NFL mock drafts are never going to be perfect, that's why they're called "mock drafts". Max Chadwick of PFF released a way-too-early 2024 mock draft following the 2023 NFL Draft and had quite the swing-and-miss prediction for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Not only did Chadwick have the Bucs picking fifth overall but he had them going with North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with that selection.
"The Buccaneers find their new franchise quarterback in Maye, who was the most valuable player in college football last season according to our wins above average metric. His 45 big-time throws were 10 more than the next-closest FBS quarterback and he tied for second among all quarterbacks with 56 combined rushing first downs/touchdowns."Max Chadwick
Now, of course, a lot of mock drafts are usually based off of odds for the following season and a lot of people thought the Bucs were going to be bad so you can't blame Maxwell too much for having Tampa draft so early. On the other hand, assuming that Baker Mayfield wasn't going to work out is something we can dunk on him for.
Mayfield revitalized his career in Tampa, leading the Bucs to an NFC South title and a playoff win over the Eagles. He was signed to an extension this offseason and will be the quarterback of the Buccaneers for the foreseeable future.
PFF swung and missed with 2024 draft prediction
Maxwell also wasn't incorrect on the fact that Maye would be an early pick in the draft. The New England Patriots selected Maye with the third overall pick after he threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine picks during his 2023 season with the Tar Heels.
Maxwell probably wasn't the only person who thought that the Bucs would be bad and draft a quarterback with their first-round pick this time last year but now that we know how the 2023 season played out, it makes these predictions even funnier.