Here are five NFL teams that could draft “elusive” playmaker and former Georgia Bulldog wide receiver, Ladd McConkey this year. There’s no secret that he isn’t the best “available” wide receiver in this year’s loaded draft class. However, McConkey’s abilities of being a route runner and getting open is something that teams should look into. According to a scouting report, he is being compared to a faster Diontae Johnson so his hands are reliable enough to gain yardage.
McConkey is expected to go late in the first round or early round two of the NFL Draft. In his collegiate career, he is said to have “devastating quickness” against defenses. He notched 119 receptions for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding four more scores and a runner. He wasn’t just a receiver but he was a good punt returner with an average of 13.3 yards.
However, his track record of injuries was probably the reason why his draft stock isn’t as high as other receivers. While most wideouts like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malike Nabers or Rome Odunze will be off the board in the first round, McConkey is still reliable. Pro Football Focus described him as a strong blocker while recording a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. His speed is the most surprising element to the NFL Scouts so that’s plenty enough to prove he can go.
With that, here are the five NFL teams that could draft McConkey.
Five Teams That Could Draft Ladd McConkey
Kansas City Chiefs
It’s possible that the Kansas City Chiefs could take the Georgia product with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round. According to NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein, selecting McConkey could give Patrick Mahomes someone he can “count on” both inside and outside. It seems like the Chiefs are doing their homework in this year’s wide receiver draft class despite having the No. 32 overall pick. They won’t be able to pick up someone like Harrison Jr. but McConkey is the next best available prospect for the Chiefs.
The thing is that the Chiefs already have speed on their team and can be like Sonic on the field for the team. However, the ongoing Rashee Rice investigation could make the franchise think about the future of the offense. This should intrigue someone like Andy Reid to prioritize the wide receiver position to get another reliable weapon for Patrick Mahomes. The receiver position last season for Kansas City was one of the reasons why the offense was struggling.
Despite that, the Chiefs were able to overcome adversity to win another ring for the franchise thanks to Travis Kelce and Rice. So this means that Kelce shouldn’t be the only one making the plays. They’re going to need another exploding weapon so that answer may be McConkey.
Carolina Panthers
There’s no doubt that McConkey has done enough to be a first-round selection but in a talented-fill class, that’s not possible. The good news is that the Panthers need a receiver, but someone young who can be reliable for several years. However, they do have Johnson and Adam Thielen as veterans so they must find someone to match Bryce Young with a homegrown wideout. This gives Young a wideout that can last a decade.
Los Angeles Chargers
If anyone in the league needs a hard reset at the receiver position, it’s the Chargers. Los Angeles have lost both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen to free agency this year so that means they need to prioritize the position. If Jim Harbaugh wants to have a successful first season with his return then this is probably what he needs to do. You probably can’t have one of the top-10 quarterbacks, Justin Herbert without any new wideouts.
Baltimore Ravens
A reunion between McConkey and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken is possible this year. The Ravens are going to address the position in this year’s draft since they have been quiet this free agency. Lamar Jackson is going to need another wideout that can make plays like Zay Flowers. He was the only weapon last year that had the most yards among Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman.
New Orleans Saints
The loss of Michael Thomas shows that the Saints need a dynamic playmaker who can help alongside Chris Olave. He could be the wideout who can achieve greatness by taking most of the workload during the aftermath of Thomas. The Saints are going to need to make their picks count since they only have two selections in the first four rounds. Adding McConkey would provide versatility and speed on the ground for Derek Carr to make plays.
