Well, it seems like the Chargers were big fans of TCU’s College Football Playoff run.
After selecting Quentin Johnston at 21 and Derius Davis in the fourth round, LA went back to the Horned Frog well, capping their draft with quarterback Max Duggan at the 239th overall pick.
A 4.52 athlete, matching Johnston, Duggan finished with a 7.12 RAS that was largely weighed down by his agility scores. After beginning the 2022 season as the backup due to a coaching change, Duggan returned to the starting lineup after an injury and blossomed into a Heisman Trophy finalist.
With 47 career games under his belt, Duggan has plenty of experience against high-level competition. He finished with 9,618 passing yards and 73 touchdowns to just 28 interceptions. Those passing numbers were buoyed with 1,856 rushing yards for 28 more touchdowns over his four seasons in Fort Worth.
The Chargers will, of course, hope that Duggan doesn’t have to see the field anytime soon given the existence of Justin Herbert. However, Duggan should compete with Easton Stick for the primary backup job, and his mental makeup will add value as a scout team quarterback and another pair of eyes in the position room.
With ample athleticism for the position, Duggan will be able to simulate some of the more mobile quarterbacks the Chargers will have to face next season. There may also be some room for him to see the field in designed run packages if Kellen Moore wants to get creative with his offensive personnel.
And, of course, Duggan’s chemistry with Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis will likely help all three players transition to the NFL.
Bottom line: the Chargers got their backup QB of the future, one who’s familiar with all their new weapons.
