The Los Angeles Chargers’ first- and fourth-round rookie wide receivers will have a familiar face throwing to them at rookie minicamp after the team selected TCU quarterback Max Duggan in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, at pick No. 239 overall. Duggan was the eighth Horned Frog player taken in the draft.
A four-year starter in Fort Worth, Duggan broke out in his senior year, which saw him help lead TCU to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The overmatched Horned Frogs at that point ran into the buzzsaw that was the Georgia Bulldogs. Duggan's disaster game against UGA occurred in what will now be his new stomping grounds, SoFi Stadium.
The blowout loss to a dominant Georgia squad should not overshadow a stellar senior season, though. During the past campaign, Duggan completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns -- against only eight interceptions. Duggan adds an element on the ground, as well, having rushed for 1,856 yards and 28 touchdowns during his time in college.
The Chargers are set at quarterback with Justin Herbert returning for a fourth season, of course. Los Angeles is expected to pick up Herbert’s fifth-year option, but is hoping they won’t need it in earnest, as they continue to work on extending the 25-year-old star. The team had used Chase Daniel as a backup passer in recent years, but with Daniel still a free agent, Easton Stick (who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2020) was the only other quarterback on the roster heading into the draft.
Duggan obviously won’t be expected to challenge Herbert for a starting position, but he figures to be able to push Stick for the backup job. Despite Stick’s ostensible experience -- he has been with the team since 2019 -- Duggan brings a familiarity and chemistry with two of the team’s new receiving targets. He, Quentin Johnston, and Derius Davis will follow in the footsteps of Chargers legend LaDainian Tomlinson, wearing the Bolt on their helmet after putting forth successful college careers in Fort Worth.
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