Has Max Duggan played himself into a draft pick?
At the beginning of the 2022 season, Max Duggan was not the starting quarterback for the TCU Horned Frogs. He was backing up Chandler Morris, but in Week 2, entered the game due to an injury. Max could have been serviceable for the Horned Frogs, but he has led the team not only to the College Football Playoff but to the National Championship against No. 1 Georgia. Duggan was also named a Heisman finalist, losing to USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
Duggan’s offense will need to be set on the RPO, which could work effectively in Indianapolis with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield and Michael Pittman Jr. running slant routes. If you want to take it over the top, you have the receivers that can make that happen.
The Colts would get a quarterback that is not afraid to air it out vertically and get the ball down the field, where he has a fearless trait.
Max Duggan to Taye Barber 🎯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 31, 2022
TCU is ROLLING
(via @Big12Conference) pic.twitter.com/yXyrmyv03t
However, the main concern for Duggan as an NFL quarterback is the ability to read a defense post-snap. He seems to throw the ball into holes that could be intercepted easily, but the receiver gets up and makes the play.
Duggan will need to be bailed out of throws by athletic receivers, who the Colts do have. If Indianapolis does select Duggan, it will likely be in rounds 3-5 and not with a top-10 pick. If the Colts take the best player available with their first pick, Duggan can become an option later in the draft.