The New York Jets are among the teams showing interest in TCU’s dual-threat quarterback
Aaron Rodgers may be the “big fish” that the New York Jets have their sights on, but they could be looking to address the position in the 2023 NFL draft as well.
NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported the Jets are among multiple teams (along with the Chargers and Cowboys) who have expressed interest in TCU quarterback Max Duggan ahead of the NFL draft.
TCU QB Max Duggan and I after throwing at his Pro Day. He is currently drawing interest from the Chargers, Jets and Cowboys. He is currently training with Jordan Palmer ahead of the draft. pic.twitter.com/zqnT70PEQd
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 30, 2023
Regardless of how you feel about Duggan as a prospect, his journey is quite incredible.
Prior to the start of the 2020 season, Duggan was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. It required him to have a lengthy surgery in order to continue playing his career.
Duggan opted to receive the surgery, and he went on to play every game of the 2020 season. He had 20 total touchdowns (10 passing, 10 rushing), leading the Horned Frogs to six wins and a Bowl game.
When the Horned Frogs’ then-head coach Gary Patterson was fired after the 2021 season, Duggan was benched for Chandler Morris. But it didn’t take long for Duggan to find himself back in the starting lineup.
In the second half of TCU’s first game in 2022, Morris would injure his knee, opening the door for Duggan to regain his role as the starter. Duggan kept the job throughout the remainder of the season and went on to have the best year of his career. The dual-threat QB would finish with 41 total touchdowns (32 passing, 9 rushing) while throwing for 3,698 yards and a 159.2 passer rating.
The 2022 season saw Duggan take home the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award. Duggan also won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, given to the most outstanding senior quarterback in college football. It’s an award that has been given to notable quarterbacks such as Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, and Andrew Luck.
The 22-year-old led the Horned Frogs to an undefeated regular season record (12-0) and a spot in the National Title game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Oh, and let’s not forget, Duggan also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Now, the Iowa-born product has a chance to turn his collegiate success into a gig in the NFL.
Max Duggan’s current draft projections are all over the place. While he won’t fetch first-round draft capital, Duggan is likely to be a mid-round quarterback. At worst, he could be signed as a UDFA after the end of the draft.
Currently, the Jets only have Zach Wilson and Chris Streveler at quarterback – until the inevitable Aaron Rodgers trade. Exploring the possibility of adding a rookie quarterback is the type of due diligence we should expect from Joe Douglas.
The odds of Duggan becoming a star in the NFL could be slim, but having that potential in the QB room at an affordable cost should be a no-brainer. After all, the Jets will need an answer at quarterback post-Rodgers at some point.
