The Denver Broncos were allowed to host ten draft-eligible prospects Tuesday at Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at UCHealth Training Center but one of them certainly garnered more attention.
Max McCaffrey, son of Ed McCaffrey, who ranks fourth all-time in team receptions, took to the field to showcase his skills for the Broncos staff. It was a moment McCaffrey had dreamt about and certainly gave an added feel to another workout before the 2016 NFL Draft.
“It’s a dream come true,” Max McCaffrey said. “Flying up here, getting that call to come to the local day, there are definitely jitters.”
Max McCaffrey is the oldest of four star football players including Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey of Stanford University but he has also made a name for himself with his play at Duke University.
He lettered all four seasons at Duke, playing in 53 games, starting in all but two of the Blue Devils games the past three seasons. He caught 117 passes for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns in his four years. His senior year, he played to career season highs with 52 receptions, 642 receiving yards and five touchdowns according to the university’s website. Yet, he was not invited to the 2016 NFL Combine.
“I really would have liked to get that but at the same time, you have a chance show a lot of scouts at pro day,” Max McCaffrey said of missing the combine. “That’s where I really wanted try to show what I could do and I got another opportunity like this that I’m thankful to be out here. Every time you get an opportunity you just have to show up.”
He impressed at his Duke pro day March 23, running a 4.36 40-yard dash, jumping a 36-inch vertical and a 10’2” broad jump. It helped propel him into draft consideration. He is ranked well into the late rounds on most draft boards and even likely to be an undrafted college free agent. His expectations for Tuesday were simple as he got another chance to showcase his skills.
“I thought it went well,” he said. “Expectations were to come out and run routes, everything I’ve been doing out in North Carolina and just show myself a little bit.”
His father, a multiple Super Bowl Champion also kept it simple when he gave advice about the big day.
“Just come out and play your game,” Max McCaffrey said of his father’s advice. “He’s always been there to support me. I’m lucky to have him as a father, to help me out with this.”
McCaffrey’s chances of landing in Denver are pretty slim but his experience Tuesday, paired with his childhood memories have certainly added to the thought of playing in orange and blue.
“I would love to come out here,” he said. “Anyone that picks me up it would be great. If I came here it would be awesome just knowing a lot of people in the organization through my dad. I watched a lot of the ex-players that are coaches now back in the day.”
It is clear that talent runs in the McCaffrey family, starting with his father, onto Max’s shoulders and down to his brothers. One is the front-runner to win the Heisman in 2016, the other just committed to play quarterback at University of Michigan after winning the 5A state football championship and another will continue the football legacy at Valor Christian High School as a sophomore. Tuesday Max McCaffrey couldn’t escape how beneficial his father’s help has been over the year’s and was quick to count his blessing as he walked, literally in his father’s footsteps once again at Dove Valley.
“It would be an incredible opportunity to play somewhere my dad played. I would love it,” he concluded. “Growing up watching him play has been a blessing and having his experience, especially through this process, has been very beneficial to me.”
