Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

McConkey was a three-star recruit from North Murray High School in Chatsworth, Ga. in the class of 2020

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey was an All-SEC selection in 2022. The redshirt junior faces an uphill battle if he wants to be a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Some of his obstacles include nagging knee injuries.

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Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior outside receiver from Chatsworth, Ga.

Background: McConkey was a three-star recruit from North Murray High School in Chatsworth, Ga. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 1,160 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,144 for On3.com. McConkey was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 76 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, he amassed 3,051 all-purpose yards while playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and returner. McConkey completed 124 passes for 1,771 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 924 rushing yards and ten touchdowns on the ground. He also totaled 356 return yards and three special teams scores. As a defensive back, McConkey made four interceptions and scored three touchdowns. In 2019, he earned All-Region honors as a specialist, which included some work as a punter. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution named McConkey to the 2019 All-State Class 3A First Team. He also received First Team honors as a quarterback from the Georgia Sports Writers Association. As a senior, McConkey led North Murray to an 11-2 record and an undefeated 8-0 Region 6-3A title. He was the Region 6-3A Offensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-Region selection on defense. McConkey also started as a guard on the basketball team. His squad went 20-5 overall and captured the Region 6-3A title with a 16-0 record in 2019. McConkey competed on the varsity track and field team, clocking a 10.85 in the 100-meter dash. He placed third at the region meet in 2019. McConkey ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the 2019 Opening Atlanta Regional.

Injuries & Off-Field: Dealt with nagging knee soreness throughout 2022, missed part of the 2022 SEC Championship with a knee injury

Awards: 2021 Freshman All-SEC, 2022 Second Team All-SEC

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, experience playing in the slot and out wide, fires feet against press coverage, varies route tempo and pacing, generates separation with route running, precision route running, executes sharp cuts, good footspeed, footwork helps freeze defensive backs at the top of the stem, snappy route runner, fools defenders on double moves, enough speed to pressure defenses vertically, long strides eat space quickly, flashes of high-level ball tracking, catches with his hands instead of his body, sudden stop-start agility gives him some YAC upside and elusiveness, willing blocker

Cons: Possible long-term concerns about knee injuries, six drops in 2022, focus drops and bobbled passes, schemed touches and free releases, lacks true burner speed, some false steps in release, release package is underwhelming, routes become derailed by contact at the top of the stem, bumped off route by physicality, doesn’t handle physicality and contact in an ideal manner, doesn’t generate separation with pure speed or physical traits, erased by bracket coverage, struggled when lined up out wide against TCU’s corners (2022), occasionally drifts too far downfield on digs and outs, could press harder to sell the fade route before converting it into a slant, not a strong option in jump ball scenarios, let a few would-be deep catches go through his hands because of ball tracking issues, outruns his blockers, must read and use his blockers better, lacks the power to break many tackles, needs to take better angles to blocks

Overview: McConkey gained experience as a return man in high school, which he carries over to his role as a punt returner for Georgia. He also has experience on the kick return, kick coverage, and punt coverage units. McConkey lines up in the slot and out wide for the Bulldogs. As a route runner, he varies his route tempo and pacing to set up defensive backs for moves. McConkey primarily generates separation with precise route running and sharp cuts. He has good footspeed to combat press coverage or freeze defensive backs at the top of the stem. The redshirt junior is a snappy route runner who fools defenders with double moves. He has enough speed to pressure defenses vertically but isn’t a true burner. McConkey’s long strides allow him to eat space quickly. He has flashes of high-level ball tracking but is still very inconsistent in this area. McConkey catches with his hands instead of his body but suffers from a large number of concentration drops. The former three-star recruit is a weapon with the ball in his hands. His acceleration and stop-start agility make him elusive and allow him to generate yards after the catch. McConkey is a willing blocker who contributes in the run game, but he needs to take better angles to blocks. Georgia puts McConkey in motion frequently and works to scheme him free releases or uncontested touches on screens. A lot of those opportunities, including the end-arounds, won’t be available in the NFL. McConkey separates late in routes when going through cuts or snapping off the stem, but he doesn’t get open consistently on linear plays. His vertical routes don’t generate much separation or production unless the defense busts the coverage. McConkey’s routes become derailed by contact at the top of the stem, and he is bumped off course by physical defensive backs too easily. This is an issue against press coverage. McConkey doesn’t have the pure speed or developed release package to beat press consistently. He struggled to generate separation when lined up out wide against TCU’s corners, Tre'vius Hodges-Tomlinson and Josh Newton, in the National Championship Game. McConkey occasionally drifts too far downfield on digs and outs, which allows the defender to stick with his route. The Georgia native isn’t a reliable option on jump balls and has a history of letting deep passes slip through his hands. When he has the ball, McConkey fails to read his blockers and frequently outruns them, which ultimately limits his yards after the catch. He lacks the strength to break many tackles. His nagging knee injury from 2022 could cause some long-term medical concerns.

Overall, McConkey thrives on complex routes and is a creative playmaker with the ball in his hands, but his inconsistencies make him a candidate to return to college in 2024. A significant part of McConkey’s evaluation depends on him receiving a clean bill of health during the pre-draft process.

Role & Scheme Fit: Slot receiver with outside versatility in a spread offense

Round Projection: Sixth Round

Size: 6'0", 185 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 06-16-23