Mike McCarthy praises NFL quarterback prospect Max Duggan at 2023 Scouting Combine

NFL quarterback prospect Max Duggan has a big fan in Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. The former Packers coach was asked about the former TCU Horned Frogs star on Wednesday, leading to a heartfelt response.

“What a great year TCU had,” McCarthy said. “I just love the way (Duggan) plays. One thing about the games I saw is that you’re never out of the game with Max. I think it’s a huge characteristic as a quarterback you have to have in this league.”

Jerry Jones has made the Cowboys’ priorities for this year’s draft clear and the team will be drafting a quarterback. It’s not completely far-fetched that Dallas could wind up with the star out of Fort Worth.

Duggan is ranked the No. 9 best-available quarterback in the draft by ESPN, making him a likely Day 3 pick. The Cowboys have selections to make in every round except the sixth.

Duggan had a career year leading the Horned Frogs to their first College Football Playoff appearance. In 15 games, he had 3,698 yards, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions, a 63.7% completion percentage, 423 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. One hundred underclassmen gained approval for last year’s draft. Seventy-three of those 100 underclassmen received special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.