With the NFL draft just days away, top quarterbacks like Drake Maye are grabbing the spotlight more than ever. Maye is considered one of the best quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, along with Caleb Williams. These highly coveted quarterbacks are simultaneously making waves with some lucrative NIL deals.

It’s no surprise that the top-ranked Williams dominates the NIL landscape. However, UNC Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye isn’t far behind in the top earners’ list. Unlike Williams, Maye didn’t enter college as a top-five recruit. Most of them ranked him as a 4-star prospect. Despite this, Maye’s star power and marketability have exploded during his time at UNC. 

Drake Maye NIL deals at UNC

While at UNC, Drake Maye capitalized on his rising fame to secure multiple lucrative NIL deals. He partnered with Yoke Gaming, a platform for gamers, and is expected to promote the brand on his social media channels. Soon, Maye also inked deals with two popular food chains — Bojangles’ Famous Chicken’ n Biscuits and Jimmy’s Famous Seafood. It’s said that the latter deal was facilitated through Heels4Life, a UNC collective. Meanwhile, rumors suggest a potential deal with Bose, hinted at by an Instagram post featuring Maye and his teammates with new Bose headphones.

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While the exact terms of these deals remain undisclosed, On3 estimates Maye’s brand power at $895k and his NIL value at $298k, resulting in a total annual value of $1.2 million for the quarterback. This is a massive figure for a 21-year-old college athlete, though perhaps unsurprising given his wealthy family background.

Maye’s wealthy UNC family sets high expectations

Drake Maye comes from a family with a rich legacy of athletic success and financial achievement. His father, Mark Maye, was also a North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback in 1986. Interestingly, he also became the first in his family to attend UNC. Thus, following in his footsteps, Drake and his brother Luke Maye also attended the same university. It is said that Mark Maye later earned his MBA and built a successful business career, adding significantly to the family’s wealth. Meanwhile, Luke Maye has also found his earning potential to become a professional basketball player at the university. 

Drake’s mother, Aimee Maye, was also an athlete at UNC, playing basketball during her college years. Though her current career is unknown, she is adding to the Maye family’s sporting profile. With draft day approaching, the Maye family seems all excited about Drake’s future and potential earnings. They only need a sizeable rookie contract to make their wealthy family richer.