ESPN draft expert reveals what Max Duggan needs to do at Senior Bowl to increase NFL stock

TCU quarterback Max Duggan had a breakout season for the Horned Frogs, and has now earned himself an appearance in the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Duggan will be joined by four other quarterbacks looking to make a name for themselves and increase their draft stock in Mobile this week. ESPN NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid spoke on Duggan and what he needs to do at the Senior Bowl to do just that.

“The Horned Frogs’ signal-based offense didn’t require relaying and calling plays in the huddle, so this is a chance for Duggan to show he can execute in a more controlled setting. Can he adapt to those concepts and then show he can exhaust his progressions as a passer and hit all of the pro-level throws?” Reid asked.

Duggan will be playing under Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in the Senior Bowl, and will be running an NFL-style offense different than the Horned Frogs’. The Senior Bowl will give Duggan a shot to prove that he can be as productive as he was in his senior season at TCU, where he increased his passing yards by over 1,500 yards and doubled his touchdown passing total from his junior year.

“Duggan passed for 3,698 yards and 32 TD throws while leading TCU to the national championship game, but scouts have him with mainly late-round grades. He can solidify his status as a draftable player with a strong performance here,” Reid said.

Duggan didn’t even enter the season as the Horned Frogs starter, replacing Chandler Morris after he suffered an injury in Week 1. He silenced his doubters, leading the Horned Frogs to a national championship and earning an invite to New York in December as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He still isn’t regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class, but he’s proven people wrong before, and will be looking to do so again at the Senior Bowl and throughout the draft evaluation process moving forward.

Max Duggan, Dee Winters detail how TCU will respond from disappointing end to season

TCU faithful may be reeling from their disappointing national title loss, but quarterback Max Duggan and linebacker Dee Winters are providing a boost to morale.

Speaking with the media after the loss to Georgia, the duo answered how the Horned Frogs will respond to the tough end to their season.

“It was just something that we really haven’t faced,” started Winters. “… Always have that next play mentality. Come out. Just compete. Go from there.”

Continuing, the TCU signal caller explained how if the Horned Frogs are ever on the stage again, they’d use their experience and moxie to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.

“When stuff like that happens, you’ve got to go back to your roots. Go back to your values. The culture that we set,” stated Duggan. “It was frustrating. Haven’t been in a situation like that. But you’ve got to dig yourself out of a hole. Got to believe.

“I know going forward, this program is going to get on this stage again, and if we’re ever in a situation like that I know we’re going to be able to get out of it. Have some success, and I’m pretty positive in that.”

Moving forward, nobody should count out the Horned Frogs again. Still, it’ll be interesting to see how TCU responds to the newfound target on their back.

On3’s Steve Samra contributed to this report