The Los Angeles Chargers selected Georgia receiver Ladd McConkie with the 34th pick in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday.
The 5-foot-11, 186-pound prospect redshirted in 2020 before spending three seasons as the Bulldogs’ starter. He missed five games in 2023 with back and ankle injuries, but still averaged 15.9 yards per reception in his final season at Georgia.
His best season statistically was 2022, when he caught 58 passes for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.
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Breakdown of “The Beast”
McConkey was ranked No. 31 on Dane Brugler’s Top 300 Big Board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in our annual NFL Draft Guide.
“His lack of length and small hands negatively impact his catch radius, but he plays with competitive ball skills and doesn’t force perfect placement on the quarterback.” Overall, McConkie’s physique And while his vulnerability to injury is not ideal, he is suddenly a skilled route runner and uses synchronized shakes to connect defensive backs. He has inside and outside versatility, He’s a good target for a quarterback who will be a quality No. 2 option for an NFL offense.”
Coaching information
Here’s what an anonymous coach said about McConkie in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:
“He’s more of a pure slot, but damn, he’s fast and sudden. In a different offense, or if (Georgia) didn’t have (Brock) Bowers, he probably would have put up big numbers. ”
Why is he a second round pick?
McConkie was awarded the Würfel Trophy in 2023, which recognizes the athlete who “best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.” Injuries limited his playing time in his final year at Georgia, but he started the season on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. He earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and performed well at the NFL Combine, running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.
CB De’Antre Prince has draftable grades according to scouts and was the only catch he allowed last night. But WR Rudd McConkie put him through hell on the play.
Please don’t sleep in McConkey.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 12, 2023
Nick Baumgardner scores the pick.
Arguably the most QB-friendly WR in the draft, McConkie combines speed and accuracy with reliable hands and wiggle after the catch. He’s versatile enough to play multiple spots and will also block — McConkey was a first-round WR in my book. He is Justin Herbert’s new best friend.
Class A
Ted Nguyen review
McConkey is an excellent route runner and is better in media coverage than people give him credit for. He is very efficient except during breaks. He’s a legitimate deep threat. His 4.3 speed also shows on film. He’s more than just a slot receiver. He can play outside for the Chargers. He has great after-the-catch ability and Georgia drew a lot of plays to get the ball. He’s at least a very good No. 2 receiver and will be very productive. A great pick for the Chargers and he will make Herbert very happy.
how he fits
The Chargers were pretty thin at receiver this offseason after moving on from their top two receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Williams was released. Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears. The Chargers needed both top-end talent and depth in that room. They opted to put a receiver at No. 5, with both LSU’s Malik Nabors and Washington’s Roma Odunze on the board. In the second round, manager Jim Harbaugh and General Joe Hortis got aggressive and traded to the Patriots to acquire McConkie. There is an injury concern here. That means McConkey missed four games last season with a hip injury. Still, he’s a polished route runner who quickly lifts a room that was lacking numbers and juice.
rookie impact
McConkey has an immediate path to the No. 2 receiver role. Although he lacks a bit of size at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, he still played more than 70 percent of his snaps on the outside at Georgia. He has the ability to play both outside and in the slot, and will bring flexibility to the Chargers’ passing offense. McConkey has good speed, running a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine. His skill set is a complementary fit with both Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnson.
Impact of depth chart
Before drafting McConkey, the Chargers only had four receivers on their roster: Palmer, Johnston, Delius Davis, and Simi Fehoko. The Chargers currently have a top three in Palmer, McConkey, and Johnston. This group has synergy. Palmer also has inside and outside flexibility, and he and McConkie should be relatively interchangeable pieces. Palmer is big and can win contests for the ball. McConkey has great speed in spreading the field. Johnston should play primarily on the outside. It doesn’t seem like a complete group, but the addition of McConkey brings the Chargers a lot closer to that goal.
They could have chosen…
No. 34 had some interesting defensive pieces, especially on the inside defensive line, cornerbacks and linebackers. These are his two positions that are important for the Chargers. Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean, Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil, Michigan State Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Michigan linebacker Junior Colson were options. They had two centers on their roster, Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon State and Zach Frazier from West Virginia. Acquiring a pass-catcher in Herbert is always good business, especially given how shallow the receiver room was entering the draft.
quick assessment
There are some concerns about McConkey due to his size and injury history. Will his body hold up? That’s the big question. From a strictly ability standpoint, this pick makes a lot of sense. This line from The Beast particularly stood out. “NFL scouts say he was a ‘confidence booster’ for the Georgia offense because the quarterbacks believed in him.” His polish, route deception and sense of leverage should make him an instant favorite of quarterback Justin Herbert.
(Photo: Brandon Sloter/Images of Sports/Getty Images)
