Tag: max duggan

Chargers 2023 roster review: QB Max Duggan

The Chargers filled out the quarterback room with their final selection of Max Duggan.

The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.

After putting together a polished resume at TCU, including guiding them to the national title game in 2022, the Chargers drafted Max Duggan in the seventh round of this year’s draft.

The runner-up for last year’s Heisman Trophy, Duggan passed for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns in his senior season.

Los Angeles has carried three quarterbacks on the active roster in eight of the ten seasons that Tom Telesco has been the general manager, which is why the Duggan is likely to make the 53-man roster.

Easton Stick will be the backup and while he isn’t going to push him for the spot, Duggan should add value as a scout team quarterback.

Contract (2023):

Contract Value: $3,926,220 ($981,555 APY)

Fully Guaranteed Money: $86,220

Acquired: The Chargers drafted Duggan in the seventh round of this year’s draft (No. 239 overall).

Quote: Telesco on Duggan:

“He’s tall, strong, physical, and fast, which typically aren’t the first four traits you would say about a quarterback. He has played at a high level and has good arm strength. He has a grittiness and toughness that is hard to find.”

Highlight:

Chargers 2023 roster review: WR Quentin Johnston

Set to wear the No. 1 jersey for the Chargers in 2023, Quentin Johnston is sure to be an asset in Los Angeles’ offense

The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.

One of the biggest needs for the Chargers entering the draft was speed at the wide receiver position. They accomplished that from the get-go in the first round with Quentin Johnston.

Johnston should provide a spark to Los Angeles’ offense early in the 2023 season as he can stretch the field, has the size to stack defensive backs and can outpace defenders in the open field with explosiveness, wiggle and strength.

Johnston needs to refine his route running and clean up some drop issues he dealt with in college, but having the mentorship of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Josh Palmer should aid that.

Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is going to design looks for Justin Herbert to get Johnston the ball in space and pick up yardage, and he should see some action down the field and in the red zone with his big frame to pull down passes.

Contract (2023): $750,000 base salary, $1,829,779 prorated bonus, $2,579,779 cap hit.

Acquired: Johnston was selected by the Chargers with the 21st overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Quote:  On playing with QB Justin Herbert:

“Great quarterback. I saw the call pop up and I’m like, ‘OK, that’s a great quarterback to be playing under.’ I shouldn’t have any problem coming in early and adjusting, soaking up as much stuff as I can from him as far as just football in general. I feel like I need to come in, as a young guy, as a sponge, taking in as much information as I need to. Then, eventually, clicking with the quarterback and gaining that trust from him.”

Highlight:

Projecting the Chargers’ quarterback depth chart in 2023

Projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback room will look like in the 2023 season.

Over the next couple of weeks ahead of training camp, I will be breaking down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

First, I project what the quarterback room will look like heading into the 2023 season.

Chargers’ Max Duggan heaps high praise on Derius Davis

Max Duggan had nothing but good things to say about Derius Davis.

The Chargers loved what they saw out of the TCU Horned Frogs offense last season, and drafted their quarterback Max Duggan and two of his receivers, Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis.

The team rose to prominence as a gritty Big 12 contender that made the College Football Playoff and national championship game in a Cinderella story that fans won’t forget any time soon.

For his part, Duggan seemed thrilled to reunite with his college teammates in Los Angeles during his comments to the media after practice at the Chargers’ rookie minicamp.

Though Johnston was a known commodity by many fans who follow the draft, his counterpart Davis flew under the radar a bit during the scouting process, but Duggan made it clear that he helped make the Horned Frogs’ offense click.

“D.D. was a huge threat for us [at TCU], whether it was in special teams, punt return, kick return,” Duggan explained. “Then, obviously, he was a big threat for us as a receiver, too. He can do a lot of things, obviously. His speed is what he’s known for, but he’s savvy. He knows how to run routes. He knows how to set people up with leverage. He’s a great worker and he’s going to be a good one.”

While he won’t be much of a contributor on offense early on, Davis is the favorite to be the return man, as he was arguably the best in college football in this department.

In his collegiate career, Davis returned five punts for a touchdown in just 44 attempts. He averaged 15.0 yards a return. Davis also has experience in kickoff returns, as he had one touchdown in that department and averaged 29.6 yards a return in 2021.

Familiarity helping Chargers’ TCU draft picks make smooth transition to NFL

The Los Angeles Horned Frogs. The TCU Chargers. Call them what you want.

The Los Angeles Horned Frogs. The TCU Chargers. Call them what you want.

The three players that L.A. drafted from the collegiate program took the field for the first time as professionals as the Bolts held their rookie minicamp this past week.

Wide receivers Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis caught passes from their college teammate, quarterback Max Duggan, who is set to compete with Easton Stick for the backup spot behind Justin Herbert.

“It was fun. I’m excited to be here,” Duggan said. “It’s a good opportunity. There are great people around here, it’s a great organization. Obviously, I have some familiarity with Q [WR Quentin Johnston] and D.D. [WR Derius Davis] coming here. It was fun.”

Johnston, the team’s first-round pick, got his reps on the outside. He was selected to bring an explosive element to stretch the field vertically and pick up yards after the catch.

“Almost feels identical,” Johnston said. I go out there and see the same guy lined up next to me and the same guy in the backfield; it feels like we’re back in Fort Worth again.”

Most of Davis’ work came in the slot. While he primarily participated in offensive drills, Davis is expected to contribute on special teams as the team’s return specialist after he had five punt return touchdowns and one kickoff return for a score during his college career.

“Max, he’s been my quarterback ever since he got to TCU,” Duggan said. “It was just great to get back out there, to run routes with him. We know we already have a connection, so the timing was really on. To have Q [Johnston] out there working beside me — we were kind of winded, so we were out there joking about it. It was good to be out there with those guys.”

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston talks about getting acclimated to life in the NFL

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston talked about transitioning to the NFL and his conversations with the veteran receivers.

The Chargers held their rookie minicamp this past week at Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, CA. The sessions had all of the team’s draft selections and undrafted rookies, headlined by first-round pick Quentin Johnston.

“Yeah, now it does,” Johnston said when asked if it ‘feels like’ he is in the NFL yet. “The meetings and stuff, I felt like I was still in that before the Draft stage, just getting ready for it, still anxious. As soon as I put my cleats on and got out on the field, it was a real moment.”

Johnston joins the pros with a rare combination of size and athleticism, which immediately popped on the practice field. Still, one of the things that he will have to fine-tune is his route running. Luckily, Johnston will be in a wide receiver room with plenty of knowledge in that department.

After his introductory press conference, Johnston said he stopped back at his hotel, and Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer went over to say hello and converse with him on the team and life in the NFL.

“Letting me know that we were all family,” Johnston said. “Letting me know what to expect. Kind of a crash course they gave me of what to expect, how stuff is run, a baseline so that I could get an understanding and feel for the football team, as much as I can at that point.”

After dominating at TCU, replicating that same success in this league might take time while he learns the finer details of the position. But Johnston knows that he is in good hands, and being mentored by a solid corps could go a long way to boosting his game.

“I feel like I came into a good situation, starting off initially under some guys that have been in the league and have been playing at a high level for a minute,” Johnston said. “So I feel like I can pick a lot of their game, apply it to mine, what’s needed in mine, and kind of expand from there.”

Johnston said Justin Herbert has not yet reached out to him. “He followed me on Instagram when I first got drafted,” Johnston said. “I ain’t really get a chance to talk to him yet. But hopefully soon.”

Chargers lock up six rookies to contracts, one remains unsigned

The Chargers officially signed six members of their 2023 NFL draft class to four-year contracts.

The Chargers officially signed six members of their 2023 NFL draft class to four-year contracts Friday.

Wide receivers Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis, linebacker Daiyan Henley, offensive lineman Jordan McFadden, defensive tackle Scott Matlock and quarterback Max Duggan inked their rookie deals.

The only player that remains unsigned is edge defender Tuli Tuipulotu.

Coaches got to see their draftees at work today, as Los Angeles began its rookie minicamp at Hoag Performance Center in Costa Mesa, CA.

Highlights from Day 1 of Chargers rookie minicamp

The Chargers rookies, including first-round pick Quentin Johnston took the field.

Friday marked the first day of Chargers rookie minicamp, which was highlighted by first-round pick Quentin Johnston.

The event will run through the next two days and end on May 14.

This feature will include a collection of tweets from team reporters from the session.

Read on to see a collection of the highlights and top tweets from the Bolts reporters in attendance.

Where each of the Chargers’ draft picks ranked on pre-draft big boards

Looking at the Chargers’ selections and seeing how they stacked up with other draft analysts’ big boards.

Analysts and fans are justifying the team’s picks based on value throughout the draft. Did they get a steal? Was it about right? Did they reach?

So we will look at the Chargers’ selections and how they stacked up with other draft analysts’ big boards.

Draft Wire: Top 150

Pro Football Focus: Top 200

Daniel Jeremiah: Top 150

CBS Sports: NFL Draft Prospect Rankings

The Athletic: Top 300

Todd McShay: Top 350

Mel Kiper Jr: Top 150

2023 NFL draft: Chargers announce rookie jersey numbers

The Los Angeles Chargers rookies have their jersey numbers set in stone.

The Chargers announced the jersey numbers for their 2023 rookie class on Thursday.

Here’s a look at the first-year players and the numbers they will be sporting:

  • WR Quentin Johnston – 1
  • EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu – 45
  • LB Daiyan Henley – 0
  • WR Derius Davis – 12
  • OL Jordan McFadden – 71
  • DL Scott Matlock – 99
  • QB Max Duggan – 8