The Los Angeles Chargers traded up from the No. 37 overall pick to No. 34 to draft Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey on Friday night in the second round of the NFL Draft.
McConkey considers himself someone who will fit the Chargers offensive scheme well.
“I think that I’m very versatile. I can play inside and outside,” McConkey said. “A gadget guy that can kind of do a little bit of it all. Just going to go out there, see what my role is with them.”
McConkey stands 6 feet, 186 pounds, and had 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns during his collegiate career. Per PFF, McConkey ranks No. 4 in the SEC since 2021 with 30 missed tackles forced. Two national championships later, McConkey is now ready to win a Super Bowl with the Chargers and be part of what new head coach Jim Harbaugh hopes is a much-improved franchise in 2024 and thereafter.
McConkey is excited to have Justin Herbert as his quarterback and he’s ready to develop chemistry with him.
“Just watching his game, it comes easy to him,” McConkey said. “He can make any and every throw. Excited to get out there, get in rhythm with him, show him what I can do and gain his trust.”
Part of gaining Herbert’s trust will simply reside in McConkey being himself. He does the small things and the big things right.
“Competitor, big-time. Those things. He catches the ball. A terrific route-runner. He has the quickness, he has the speed that is going to be great for our offense,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh also noted McConkey plays to his 4.39 forty time every single play.
“You can see it in the way that he rages off of the ball, and once he has the ball in his hands.”
McConkey appears to be all-in on being drafted by the Chargers, and the fact that they traded up for him means even more.
“That is just a little bit extra motivation,” McConkey said. “They want me, they came up and got me, so I’m going to give everything that I have to them and make sure that it is worth it.”
The Chargers believe McConkey’s worth it and we could be hearing “Herbert to McConkey” a lot this fall.
