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The New England Patriots traded the No. 34 overall pick to the Los Angeles Chargers, who selected Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McConkey spent four seasons with the Bulldogs, capturing two national titles. Here’s everything to know about McConkey.
McConkey was an under-the-radar recruit from northwest Georgia whose family were big Tennessee fans, but that school didn’t offer. Georgia did despite McConkey weighing only 165 pounds by the end of his senior year. He redshirted and played on the scout team his first season and then had 12 touchdown catches and 3 rushing scores the next two seasons. His crisp route running and quickness are what separate him from other receivers whether he lines up on the outside or in the slot.
McConkey, who is from Chatsworth, Georgia, and went to North Murray High School, is 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds.
119 catches for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns, 216 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 13.3 yards punt return average.
A game at Vanderbilt in 2021 was the first sign that Georgia had found something in McConkey who made a leaping, twisting catch for a touchdown and took a pitch on an end-around for another score. Two weeks later, he had 5 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown at Auburn. In the national championship game in the 2022 season, McConkey had a pair of touchdown catches in the Bulldogs’ second straight national title win.
McConkey followed up a strong Senior Bowl week by running a 4.39 40 at the NFL combine to create even more buzz for him. He followed that up with a well-received Pro Day on campus that included the 3-cone drill in an unofficial 6.69 seconds.