Tag: max duggan

1 stat to know about each of Chargers’ draft picks

These numbers should make Chargers fans more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

The Chargers came away with an impressive haul of draft picks last weekend.

We picked out one stat to know about each of Los Angeles’ draft picks from their collegiate career. These numbers should make supporters feel even more intrigued about the incoming rookie class.

5 takeaways from the Chargers’ 2023 draft class

Here are some final thoughts on the Los Angeles Chargers’ haul in the 2023 NFL draft.

General manager Tom Telesco, head coach Brandon Staley and company knew that the 2023 NFL draft was a crucial part of their roster reconstruction after a steady approach in free agency.

For the most part, they accomplished that by landing impactful players and some that should be key pieces of the team down the road.

With that, here are five takeaways from Los Angeles’ haul.

Examining every Big 12 team’s record in one score games last season

Some Big 12 football programs are due for better luck in 2023.

Luck is an important factor in college football. Continue reading “Examining every Big 12 team’s record in one score games last season”

Chargers’ 2023 draft class: All 7 players selected by Los Angeles

Meet the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2023 NFL draft class.

The Chargers completed the 2023 NFL draft with seven selections in total, four on offense and three on defense.

Los Angeles opened up the draft in the first round (No. 21) with wide receiver Quentin Johnston and closed it out in the seventh round (No. 239) with quarterback Max Duggan.

Here’s a look at every player the Bolts drafted and the spot where they were taken.

Instant analysis of the Chargers’ pick of TCU QB Max Duggan at No. 239 overall

What the selection of Max Duggan means for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Well, it seems like the Chargers were big fans of TCU’s College Football Playoff run.

After selecting Quentin Johnston at 21 and Derius Davis in the fourth round, LA went back to the Horned Frog well, capping their draft with quarterback Max Duggan at the 239th overall pick.

A 4.52 athlete, matching Johnston, Duggan finished with a 7.12 RAS that was largely weighed down by his agility scores. After beginning the 2022 season as the backup due to a coaching change, Duggan returned to the starting lineup after an injury and blossomed into a Heisman Trophy finalist.

With 47 career games under his belt, Duggan has plenty of experience against high-level competition. He finished with 9,618 passing yards and 73 touchdowns to just 28 interceptions. Those passing numbers were buoyed with 1,856 rushing yards for 28 more touchdowns over his four seasons in Fort Worth.

The Chargers will, of course, hope that Duggan doesn’t have to see the field anytime soon given the existence of Justin Herbert. However, Duggan should compete with Easton Stick for the primary backup job, and his mental makeup will add value as a scout team quarterback and another pair of eyes in the position room.

With ample athleticism for the position, Duggan will be able to simulate some of the more mobile quarterbacks the Chargers will have to face next season. There may also be some room for him to see the field in designed run packages if Kellen Moore wants to get creative with his offensive personnel.

And, of course, Duggan’s chemistry with Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis will likely help all three players transition to the NFL.

Bottom line: the Chargers got their backup QB of the future, one who’s familiar with all their new weapons.

2023 NFL draft: Chargers pick QB Max Duggan with No. 239 overall selection

The Chargers added another to their quarterback room.

The Chargers have taken former TCU quarterback Max Duggan with the No. 239 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

Los Angeles re-signed Easton Stick to serve as the primary backup to Justin Herbert. However, the team has carried three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster in recent seasons. Therefore, so Duggan was intriguing enough to bring in to compete for a spot.

The runner-up for this year’s Heisman Trophy, Duggan helped lead the Horned Frogs to the College Football Playoff with an impressive 2022 campaign. He passed for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns in his senior season. In addition, Duggan was a Senior Bowl participant.

Packers Mock Draft 9.0: Packers turn to Iowa for help in 7-Round mock draft

The Packers took players from Iowa with their first two picks in this seven-round mock draft.

Welcome to the final Mock Draft Monday of the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. In this seven-round mock, we have a “mock” Aaron Rodgers trade to the New York Jets for the 42nd overall pick. Let’s take a look at the players the Green Bay Packers selected in my seven-round mock draft.

15th overall pick: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa

With the nickname Hercules, one better be a powerful specimen. Lukas Van Ness lives up to the nickname and then some. He’s a powerful edge rusher with a devastating bull rush to blast through blockers.

Van Ness never started a game for the Hawkeyes. That didn’t stop him from leading the team with 46 pressures this past season. Over the past two seasons, Van Ness recorded 74 pressures (PFF) to go along with 13 sacks.

Green Bay’s pass rush needs juice. With Rashan Gary coming off a torn ACL and Preston Smith turning 31 this season, the Packers need to add another difference-maker at the position. 

With his length (6-5), power, and age (he’ll turn 22 in July), Van Ness fits the bill of what Gutekunst is looking for in the first round. 

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42nd overall pick: Sam Laporta, TE, Iowa

If it wasn’t for Iowa’s putrid offense, LaPorta may have posted a 1,000-yard receiving for the Hawkeyes. The Iowa tight end is a difference-maker as a pass catcher. LaPorta is one of the best YAC threat tight ends in this class. Over the past two seasons, LaPorta racked up 667 yards after the catch (PFF). As a blocker, LaPorta is wired right as a blocker and more than willing to do the dirty work. 

The Packers desperately need an infusion of talent at the tight end position. LaPorta is a well-rounded tight end. He’s a moveable tight end that could line up in the slot, in-line, or even out wide. He could step in immediately and provide an impact as a security blanket for Jordan Love. 

45th overall pick:  Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida

Dexter has a quick first step off the snap and has a lot of power flowing through his upper body. Just turn on Dexter’s game against Alabama during the 2021 season and it’s easy to see Dexter’s disruptive potential. He finished that game with eight tackles, one sack and was consistently disrupting the action.

The Packers lost Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry in free agency. They need to add talent around Kenny Clark. Devonte Wyatt is a candidate to break out during his second year in the league.

Dexter has all the tools in the shed to develop into a disruptive force. With his traits and age (22 in October), it’s a safe bet that the Florida defensive tackle could be high on Green Bay’s board to start day two of the draft.

78th overall pick: Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State

The Michigan State wide receiver has an instant accelerator and the long speed to win vertically. Reed is a shifty athlete in space. If he makes the first defender miss he has the quickness to make a house call. According to PFF, Reed picked 581 yards after the catch over the past two seasons. 

On top of all that, Reed’s a willing blocker on the perimeter. He’d also bring special teams value as a return man.

The Packers need more speed.  His calling card is his ability to win vertically. He’s more than just a vertical threat though. He’s a three-level threat that would give the Packers an electric playmaker to pair with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure. 

116th overall pick: Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah

Daniels finished his career at Utah with 43 career starts. Daniels started 18 games at left guard and 11 games at right tackle. This past season he started all 14 games at left tackle.

Daniels has quick feet and plays and he has the lateral quickness to match rushers wide of the pocket. This past season, Daniels made the move from right tackle to left tackle and gave up zero sacks. 

Daniels is an athletic offensive tackle that doesn’t labor reaching the second level. He sustains his block to create movement in the run game.

With his tackle-guard versatility and experience, Daniels could be an attractive day-three target for the Packers as they look to add more depth to the offensive line. 

149th overall pick: Rejzohn Wright, CB, Oregon State

The Oregon State cornerback looks the part at 6-1, 193 pounds, with long arms. With his size and length, he gives the quarterback a very small window. He’s not shy about using his length at the line of scrimmage. With his length, he suffocates passing lanes.

The Packers currently have a logjam of cornerbacks that play on the boundary and adding a player like Wright would only add to the clutter. All it takes is one injury to create a massive need and a team can never have enough talented cornerbacks. In 2021, the Packers lost Alexander for most of the season. This past season, it was Eric Stokes missing the majority of the season due to injury. 

Adding a player with Wright’s length and athleticism would be appealing on day three of the draft. 

170th overall pick: Jalen Redmond, DL, Oklahoma

Redmond explodes out of his stance. He’s twitched up. That short-area explosiveness was on full display at the combine when he clocked a 1.71 10-yard split. That time was tied for the second fastest among interior defensive linemen.

With his initial quickness, he consistently disrupts the action in the backfield. Redmond played in 32 games during his time as a Sooner and finished with 31.5 tackles for loss.  

As mentioned earlier, the Packers need bodies up front and they need to bolster their interior pass rush. Redmond has the athleticism to develop into a disruptive force up front.

232nd overall pick: Noah Gindorff, TE, NDSU

The NDSU tight end has missed 15 games over the past two seasons due to ankle injuries. If it weren’t for injuries, Gindorff likely would have been an early day-three selection. 

Gindorff gets after it as a blocker and does a good job of sealing outside running lanes. He’s a big target with a large catch radius.

235th overall pick: Max Duggan, QB, TCU

The TCU quarterback is tough as nails and put together many highlight-reel-worthy runs during his time at TCU. Duggan gets the ball out with urgency and throws with nice touch. With his competitive toughness, Duggan could be a solid backup for Jordan Love. 

242nd overall pick: Ty Okada, S, Montana State

The Minnesota native is a versatile defensive back that would be an attractive target for the Packers as they look for upgrades at safety. Okada could play in the slot, on the boundary, or in the deep third. He has 4.44 speed and experience playing on special teams. Given the state of Green Bay’s safety room, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Okada battle for playing time. 

256th overall pick:  Anders Carlson, K, Auburn

Have to get a kicker in on this mock draft. With Jake Moody and Chad Ryland off the board, let’s go with the Classical Academy graduate (Colorado Springs) and brother of Daniel Carlson. Anders has a strong leg, with a career-long of 53 yards. With Mason Crosby’s career in Green Bay likely done, Carlson could be his replacement. 

Friday Night Notes: TCU’s new QB, TJ Moore’s top 13 schools and more

Hejny marks the first commitment for TCU in the ’24 recruiting cycle.

USA TODAY High School Sports‘ Friday Night Notes is a weekly high school recruiting recap that looks at the latest news from around the country—from the Class of 2023 to ’24 and beyond.

TCU made it all the way to the national championship this past season, only to get blown out by Georgia. If they intend to return to the big stage, they must retool at several key positions this offseason. With starting quarterback Max Duggan having declared for the 2023 NFL draft, they’ll definitely need to include a QB on the list. Help is on the way, though.

On Thursday, Aledo (Texas) three-star quarterback Hauss Hajny announced his commitment to the Horned Frogs with the following message he shared on his Twitter account.

“After much consideration, I’m proud to announce my commitment to Texas Christian University. As someone who has grown up with purple in my blood, becoming a Horned Frog is a lifelong dream come true. I know that my success is not mine alone. I owe everything to God’s grace and guidance, as well as my incredible support system of family, friends, and coaches who have believed in me every step of the way. To the coaches who have been a part of my recruiting journey, thank you for your time and investment in me and my family. I can’t wait to begin this next chapter as a Horned Frog and make all of you proud. #GoFrogs.”

via @HaussHejny

Hejny (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) also had offers from Duke, Austin Peay, Baylor, Cal, Campbell, Houston, Nebraska, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Utah, UTSA and West Virginia.

According to the composite rankings, Hejny is No. 43 among quarterbacks in the class of 2024 and No. 114 overall in the state of Texas.

Hejny marks the first commitment for TCU in the ’24 recruiting cycle.

Chargers 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Los Angeles stand at quarterback?

Our Chargers’ NFL draft preview series kicks off with quarterback, which is in good hands with Justin Herbert.

After taking a steady approach in free agency, signing just one external player in linebacker Eric Kendricks and re-signing a handful of their own, the Chargers now have their sights set on the draft where they will look to bolster their roster with their selections and make a deeper run in 2023.

Before, we’re going position by position to break down where Los Angeles stands entering the draft.

First up is quarterback.

Lions 2023 NFL draft: A quarterback for every round

There are options across the draft spectrum, from potential future starters to long-term backups behind Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions will be selecting a quarterback at some point in the 2023 NFL draft. General manager Brad Holmes has effectively told us that in both words and actions, though never explicitly. The question is, when in the draft?

There are options across the draft spectrum, from potential future starters to long-term backups that would upgrade the No. 2 position.

Here is one quarterback prospect that fits the Lions from each round of the draft. Detroit doesn’t currently have any picks in the fourth or seventh rounds, but players from those ranges are included because trades happen all the time during the draft weekend.

Lions 2023 draft: An offensive guard for every round

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, just one from each range, in an effort to show the relative level of talent that should be available in those rounds. Note that the projections here are based on where the players are expected to be drafted as of publication time.