The 2024 NFL Draft is quickly approaching on April 25, 2024. We take a look at Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, a former three-star recruit by ESPN and 247 Sports. Throughout his career at Georgia, he was a trusted and reliable target for both Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck.
The wideout saw action in 36 games while racking up 119 receptions, 1,687 yards (14.2 yards per catch), and 14 touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground with 13 carries for 216 yards (16.6 yards per carry) and four touchdowns.
McConkey’s name has been rising this offseason and he will be someone to watch at the 2024 Senior Bowl.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Name: Ladd McConkey
Jersey: No. 84
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Georgia
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 185 lbs.
Awards: Freshman All-SEC (2021) Second team All-SEC (2022) & Wuerffel Trophy (2023)
Games Watched: Oregon (2022), Tennessee (2022), Kentucky (2023) Missouri (2023) & Ole Miss (2023)
Major Injury History: None
Georgia WR Ladd McConkey is a fun WR to watch. Efficient at all three levels with plenty of snap and fluidity in his routes. pic.twitter.com/VXBwoZhvEN
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 22, 2024
Strengths
McConkey is a fluid athlete with excellent short-area quickness and has the ability to create separation at all three levels. Demonstrates a good understanding of coverages to find soft spots within them. It allows him to be a catch-and-run option for the quarterback. He thrives against spacing and zone coverages.
He has good ball-tracking skills with great body control and consistent hands. Has the straight-line speed to threaten down the seam or even become a vertical threat over the top with his quickness off the line of scrimmage. Runs precise routes, showing an innate feel for setting up defensive backs to create separation, making himself an easy target for the quarterback. With that being said, he is also an underrated run blocker with the ability to open up lanes on the outside.
Weaknesses
Doesn’t have the size to consistently win on the outside. Can often lose against press coverage or overly physical defensive backs. He struggles with contested catches while not providing the biggest catch radius possible.
Summary
McConkey is an explosive receiver with quickness and fluidity who received a lot of off-man coverage to zone schemes because of his speed. His ability to work underneath while creating separation at all levels of the field is impressive. Due to his versatility, creativity, and elusiveness as a route runner, he can be schemed in different aspects of an offense. The vertical game, RPOs, sweeps, and basic routes can be developed around him.
Most project him as an outside Z-receiver or inside at the slot, and he should thrive as a run-after-catch threat. He can run multiple route concepts and has a repertoire of a release package. He will be a multi-packaged wideout that plays both inside and outside. His high football IQ makes him adaptable and he displays the work ethic to fit into any scheme.
Pro Comparison: Golden Tate
Draft Projection: Second Round
Grade: Second Round
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