2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Max Duggan (QB – TCU)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Max Duggan.

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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Max Duggan (QB – TCU)

Max Duggan (QB – TCU)

6’2″ – 210 lbs.

Background:

Max Duggan is a Four-star recruit who started ten games as a freshman, finishing the year with 2,077 yards (53.4%, 6.1 YPA), 15 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 130-555-6 on the ground. Over nine starts the following year, he threw for 1,795 yards (60.8%, 7.5 YPA), 10 touchdowns, four interceptions and ran for 116-526-10. As a junior, he finished with 2,048 yards (63.9%, 9.0 YPA), 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions, then enjoyed by far his most productive season as a senior, with 3,321 yards (64.9%, 9.0 YPA), 30 touchdowns and four interceptions as of the time of this writing. Duggan holds a career 24-17 record, including 12-1 this past year to date, and played in an offense that featured a lot of package plays and designed quarterback runs.

Positives:

Duggan is a four-year starter who got better each year, and much better as a senior. He’s light on his feet in the pocket, with no heel click at the back of his drops. Duggan shows the ability to work through progressions and hit checkdowns. He’s a sound decision-maker who does a nice job of avoiding turnovers and has a relatively quick release, getting the ball out fast on first-read throws. Duggan throws a catchable ball with appropriate touch and generally adequate placement. He shows some anticipation when throwing downfield, with plenty of air under his throws. He’s confident and willing to take some shots into tight coverage. Duggan is able to throw while rolling out to his right and escape from pressure by fleeing the pocket. He also shows some burst and impressive toughness as a runner.

Negatives:

Duggan is a bit on the small side for a pro quarterback, so measurements will be important. He shows some tendency to stare down targets and his arm talent and velocity is closer to average. A lot of his throws were wide-open, rather than passes in which he was threading the needle. Duggan’s ball placement can limit yards after the catch and he dribbles some easier, quick throws toward the sidelines in the screen game. Furthermore, he occasionally drops his eyes and takes off when he still has time to throw. I’d like to see him protect his body more as a runner. It’s also worth mentioning he underwent heart surgery prior to the 2020 season; that hasn’t affected his play in recent years, but it’s something teams will want to look at when he attends the Combine.

Summary:

Max Duggan is a productive, tough quarterback who makes sound decisions with the football, shows appropriate touch on his passes, and offers the ability to pick up yardage with his feet on designed runs or as a scrambler. However, he has below-average physical tools, relatively pedestrian arm talent, and occasional issues with ball placement that either result in incompletions or limit yards after the catch. Those limitations may make him more of a backup/spot-starter at the pro level, projecting as more of a mid-round selection.

Projection: Round 5

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