Despite not making the College Football Playoff for the 2023 season, the Georgia Bulldogs still strongly project as the sport’s next great dynasty team.
Standout wide receiver Ladd McConkey has played a notable role in the team’s success and is considered one of the best available prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft even with the hindrances of injury.
He finished out the season with 30 receptions for 478 yards and 3 total touchdowns over the course of 8 games, showcasing the level of versatility he brings to the table.
“I think I’m a guy who can kind of play inside, outside, do a lot of different things,” McConkey said when we spoke with him at the Senior Bowl.
“Run deep routes, catch screens, get in the run game a little bit, come down and block some safeties… play special teams well. Kind of a savvy route runner. Find the gaps, win man to man and stuff like that.”
He prides himself equally on the intangibles, which will be just as important heading to the NFL.
“I think (my number one quality is that) I’m accountable,” McConkey said. “Whatever you need me to do, I’m going to go get it done.”
And coming from the Georgia offense, which is similar to several systems run in the league, McConkey is in a perfect position to make a smooth transition.
“I feel like sometimes we run a little faster, run a little more tempo than they will in the league, but we ran so many different things, especially with coach (Todd) Monken and then with coach (Mike) Bobo. We ran literally ever single thing you could think of.”
One thing that’s stood out during the offseason is how well McConkey performed both at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine with showings that only raised his already high draft stock.
He wowed in Indianapolis with a 4.39 official 40-yard dash time that tied for the sixth-best time among all receiver prospects, bringing attention to his breakaway speed.
There’s no doubting the level of athleticism he brings to the table either that were on display in the vertical (36 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 4 inches).
“Really that I can get involved in the run game. I know I’m a smaller guy but I just try to throw my body in there, try to get it done. Might not always be pretty, might not always be a big block, but I’m going to give it my all. And winning versus man. Showing that I can go up against bigger and longer guys.”
Ladd McConkey scouting report
McConkey projects as a slot/Z-receiver who can be bring an instant boost to a team’s offense as a Day 1 starter. Even in limited action, his sure hands, reliability, versatility short-area burst speed, route-running technique, athleticism and elusiveness that allows him to slip past defenders with ease have caught the eyes of scouts consistently.
There have been some who have voiced concern about McConkey’s size and overall strength with his 5-foot-11 1/2, 187-pound frame, but that clearly hasn’t affected his level of play to this point.
Ladd McConkey 2024 NFL Draft projection
Projection: Round 1-2
McConkey’s performance at the NFL Combine earned him nothing short of a first-round grade — but there’s also no denying the talent and depth of this receiver class and that there are only 32 spots available in the first round.
Seeing McConkey land with a team in the late first round or early second round seems most reasonable.
Most likely landing spots: New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles
