Ladd McConkey | Georgia 6’0” 186 lbs. 11/11/2001 (Age 22)
Ladd McConkey was drafted 34th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming the 9th wide receiver and 34th overall player in the 2024 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
| Year | Games Played | Receptions | Yards | Yards/Catch | TDs |
| 2020 (FR) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2021 (FR) | 15 | 31 | 447 | 14.4 | 5 |
| 2022 (SO) | 15 | 58 | 762 | 13.1 | 7 |
| 2023 (JR) | 9 | 30 | 478 | 15.9 | 2 |
After redshirting his Freshman season in 2020, McConkey made an immediate impact in 2021, earning Freshman All-SEC Team honors, as he hauled in 31 receptions for 447 yards and five touchdowns en route to Georgia’s National Title run. He took a step forward in 2022, as he finished the season on the Second-team All-SEC Team, as he produced 58 receptions for 762 yards and tied for a team-high seven touchdown receptions. He was a huge reason why Georgia went on to win their second consecutive National Title. As a Junior in 2023, McConkey only played in nine games (limited due to back and ankle injuries). He was ultra-productive once again, averaging 15.9 yards per reception, as he snagged 30 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns.
FILM
STRENGTHS
Twitchy feet, often making one or more defenders miss nearly every time he had the ball in his hands. One of the best route runners in this year’s draft class. Keeps his feet under his pads and breaks in and out of his routes like a pro receiver. Great short-are quickness, as he often finds himself open against man-to-man coverages. Terrific straight-line speed, and he coordinates his hands well when the pass is off target. Shows aggressiveness and is strong enough to break away from press coverage.
WEAKNESSES
Needs to improve his ability to haul in contested catches. Lacks the ideal size to compete on the outside at the pro level. Had issues hauling in deep passes, as he finished his career with too many drops. Average acceleration, which will limit his role in the pros. Durability could be a concern, as he battled through back and ankle injuries last season.
ATHLETIC TESTING
At the NFL combine, McConkey measured in at 6’0” and 186 lbs, which equates to a BMI of 25.2. He ran a blazing 4.39-second 40-yard dash (94th percentile), equating to a 98.8-speed score (68th percentile). McConkey also displayed a 123.2 burst score (60th percentile) and a college dominator score of 17.8 percent (19th percentile).
McConkey shows decent strength for his size, as produced 13 reps on the bench press at the NFL Combine. He showcased good leaping abilities with a 36” vertical and a 122” broad jump. His biggest red flag would be his size, as he measured in with below-average hands (8 ⅝”), arms (30 ¼”), and wingspan (72 ¾”). All three of these measurements land in the 19th percentile or lower.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Good
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Excellent
McConkey was selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Now that Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are no longer in town, the Chargers needed to bring in another pass-catcher alongside Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston. With the durability concerns with Palmer and the lack of production from Johnston last season, McConkey could carve out a great role for this offense as a rookie.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
I had McConkey as my 10th-best receiver in this class. I thought he deserved to go ahead of Ricky Pearsall, but I had better grades on Troy Franklin and Adonai Mitchell. The good news is that he landed in a great spot, with the departures from Allen, Williams, and Austin Ekeler.
In your rookie drafts, you may flirt with the idea of drafting McConkey late in the first round because of his landing spot, but you should wait until the second more than likely. That’s the safe way to approach him in your drafts.
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