The Los Angeles Chargers selected Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey with the No. 34 pick in Friday’s second round of the NFL Draft.
The 5-foot-11, 186-pound prospect redshirted in 2020 before spending three seasons as a starter for the Bulldogs. He missed five games with back and ankle injuries in 2023 but still averaged 15.9 yards per reception in his final season at Georgia.
His best statistical season came in 2022 when he caught 58 passes for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.
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‘The Beast’ breakdown
McConkey ranked No. 31 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
“Although his lack of length and smaller hands hurt his catch radius, he plays with competitive ball skills and doesn’t force the quarterback to be perfect with placement. Overall, McConkey’s size and vulnerability to injuries aren’t ideal, but he is a sudden, skilled route runner and uses synchronized shake to tie defensive backs in knots. He is a quarterback-friendly target with the inside-outside versatility to be a quality No. 2 option for an NFL offense.”
Coaching intel
What an anonymous coach had to say about McConkey in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:
“He’s more of a pure slot, but damn, he is fast and sudden. In a different offense, or if (Georgia) didn’t have (Brock) Bowers, he probably would’ve put up big numbers.”
Why he’s a second-round pick
McConkey won the Wuerffel Trophy, which honors a player “who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement” in 2023. Injuries limited him during his final year at Georgia, but he began the season on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist. He earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and tested well at the NFL combine, running a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.
CB Deantre Prince has draftable grades from scouts and this was the only catch he allowed last night. But WR Ladd McConkey put him through hell on the play.
Stop sleeping on McConkey. https://t.co/nBcNATdWU1
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 12, 2023
Come back shortly for more analysis of the McConkey pick.
(Photo: Brandon Sloter / Image Of Sport / Getty Images)
