The Los Angeles Chargers became the first team in the modern NFL Draft era (since 1967) to select a quarterback and multiple skill players from the same school by selecting TCU’s Max Duggan, Quentin Johnston, and Derius Davis over the weekend.
All three players were vital components of an offense that averaged 38.8 points and 317 yards per game and helped lead TCU to the national championship game.
“They’ve got a really outstanding team,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told the media about the trio. “You saw how many players that were drafted from their football team, and I think it’s no surprise why. Sonny [Dykes] did a great job with that team, Gary Patterson recruited a lot of those players and a lot of pro players on that team, and that’s why they made it so far. [We’re] really excited about all three of these guys.”
TCU set a program record with eight total selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, with the Los Angeles Rams also picking multiple Horned Frogs.
Johnston was the first of the three new Chargers off the board with the 21st overall pick during Thursday night’s first round. Johnston brings a unique blend of size and speed that can help the Chargers stretch the field. In 2022, he became the first 1,000-yard receiver for TCU since 2018, and he was the Offensive MVP of the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan.
The Chargers selected Davis in the fourth round because of his speed and return ability. He was named an All-American punt returner and tied KaVontae Turpin’s school record of six career return touchdowns.
Duggan was the final pick of the Chargers’ draft, selected with the 239th overall pick in the seventh round. The Heisman Trophy runner-up came off the bench to lead his team to the National Championship game while winning many national awards.
“Max is a winner,” Staley explained. “He had a fantastic season for TCU, leading that football team to the best season in school history. A ton of production, and [we] just love his intangibles. We think he’s got the right makeup, a lot of characteristics to work with, and creates some depth in the quarterback room.”
The three TCU players are part of a seven-player Chargers’ draft class that also includes USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu, Clemson’s Jordan McFadden, Boise State’s Scott Matlock, and Washington State’s Daiyan Henley.
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Twenty-four players who played college football at a school in Texas were drafted throughout the seven-round NFL Draft.
Here is the complete list of those selected by round.
Round 1
No. 7 Overall: Las Vegas Raiders – Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
No. 8 Overall: Atlanta Falcons – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
No. 21 Overall: Los Angeles Chargers – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU.
Round 2
No. 36 Overall: Los Angeles Rams – Steve Avila, G, TCU
No. 55 Overall: Kansas City Chiefs – Rashee Rice, WR, SMU.
Round 3
No. 68 Overall: Houston Texans – Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, WR, Houston
No. 71 Overall: New Orleans Saints – Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
No. 89 Overall: Miami Dolphins – Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
No. 90 Overall: Dallas Cowboys – DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
No. 98 Overall: Cleveland Browns – Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor.
Round 4
No. 109 Overall: Houston Texans – Dylan Horton, DE, TCU
No. 115 Overall: Chicago Bears – Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
No. 125 Overall: Los Angeles Chargers – Derius Davis, WR, TCU.
Round 5
No. 139 Overall: Arizona Cardinals – Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
No. 160 Overall: Jacksonville Jaguars – Antonio Johnson, DB, Texas A&M
No. 166 Overall: Kansas City Chiefs – BJ Thompson, DE, Stephen F. Austin.
Round 6
No. 182 Overall: Los Angeles Rams – Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
No. 194 Overall: Kansas City Chiefs – Keondre Coburn, DL, Texas
No. 216 Overall: San Francisco 49ers – Dee Winters, LB, TCU.
Round 7
No. 221 Overall: Indianapolis Colts – Jaylon Jones, DB, Texas A&M
No. 239 Overall: Los Angeles Chargers – Max Duggan, QB, TCU
No. 240 Overall: Jacksonville Jaguars – Derek Parish, FB/DL, Houston
No. 249 Overall: Philadelphia Eagles – Moro Ojomo, DT, Texas
No. 254 Overall: New York Giants – Gervarrius Owens, DB, Houston.
Additionally, many former local high-school standouts were selected, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Rockwall), Christian Gonzalez (The Colony), and Drew Sanders (Denton Ryan).
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The Dallas Cowboys made seven picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Here is the Cowboys’ entire draft class.
No. 26 Overall – Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
No. 58 Overall – Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
No. 90 Overall – DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
No. 129 Overall – Viliami Fehoko, DL, San Jose State
No. 169 Overall – Asim Richards, OL, North Carolina
No. 178 Overall – Eric Scott, DB, Southern Mississippi
No. 212 Overall – Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
No. 244 Overall – Jalen Brooks, WR, South Carolina.
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