Ladd McConkey is Just a Pure Football Player

While there is no reported relation between Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey and former Giants receiver Phil McConkey, he sure reminds me of him.

Phil McConkey didn’t put up huge career stats receiving (84 career games, 67 receptions, 1,113 yards, and two touchdowns), but I remember as a kid when television announcer John Madden would go wild about him. He played for legendary coach Bill Parcells during the Giants’ heyday back in the 1980s and he always seemed to be making a play against my favorite team growing up, the Washington Redskins.

This Bulldogs receiver also brings back memories of Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent (200 career games, 819 receptions, 13,089 yards, and 100 touchdowns) as well as Jets long-time receiver Wayne Chrebet (152 career games, 580 receptions, 7,365 yards, and 41 touchdowns).

Hearing Chrebet’s story inspired and gave me the idea to send my scouting reports to all 32 teams when I got hired by the Jets.

All three of these former receivers were selfless team players who contributed to their team’s success.

That’s how I see McConkey.

How will McConkey’s NFL career stack up with these three when it’s all said and done?

That remains to be seen, but what I do know is I would select McConkey in a heartbeat if I was an NFL General Manager. Players like this are great for team chemistry and they move the meter.

Paint me a word picture

Scrappy

Tough

Competitive

Plays like the game of football is important to him

Catches almost everything thrown in his direction

Can pick up additional yardage after the catch

McConkey lines up on the outsides on either side or they motion him pre-snap and even pitch the ball to him on an end-around in this block of 2022 game film.

McConkey makes quick movements. That’s something that stood out. He’s quick as a hiccup. This is what helps him to create separation from cornerbacks and get open.

I mean he makes quick darting movements.

This Georgia receiver is shifty and it’s nothing for him to throw his signature head fake and boom (in honor of John Madden) he makes his move and leaves the corner behind. This also helps him regularly to pick up decent chunks of additional yardage after the catch on bubble screens.

Please don’t be mistaken – – McConkey isn’t just a possession receiver who runs polished-looking routes in the short-to-intermediate range. No, this Georgia receiver was timed at 21.4 MPH on this play below. Needless to say, he can sneak behind a defense at times. Bleacher Report ranked him as one of the “12 of College Football’s Fastest Players in 2023.”

Are there negatives?

Absolutely, physical coverage seems to be a challenge for McConkey to overcome despite his efforts to fight through it.

Sometimes, he can struggle to achieve separation in those and other situations.

He also has an average catch radius.

#84 Ladd McConkey 6-foot-0, 185 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 10.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of November 26, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Oregon, and Florida (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 Stats: 58 catches (76 targets for a 76% catch rate) for 762 yards (13.1 avg) and 7 touchdowns

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough strong-willed receiver who is a threat at all three route levels (short, intermediate, and deep). Solid at achieving route leverage initially and knows how to work corners to get open. Technical route runner. High motor. Dependable hands. Good get up and go off the snap and after the catch. Competitive and interested run blocker.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. How does he look against physical coverage?

2. Catch radius?

3. Getting deep?

4. Yards after the catch?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.