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Factoid

Ladd McConkey

The hype is real. With McConkey a Bolt is it justified?

It's easy to look at an offense where not one, but both of the top receivers have moved on to greener pastures ('Gang Green'-er in Mike Williams' case) and assume that the incoming almost-first round pick is going to have all the work he could want. But I think that forecast could use a splash of cold water.

When you have a brand-new coaching staff with an unknown MO like we do in Tennessee, New England and Seattle then it's reasonable to hazard guesses on personnel usage. And while the Chargers have a new head coach and offensive coordinator, they are hardly fresh faces: Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are known entities that are there to win football games immediately, and they are very likely going to do that with a strong running game and a lower volume passing attack - one that is anchored by veterans.

TOP WRs WITH <2 YEARS NFL EXPERIENCE ON GREG ROMAN OFFENSES
YearTeamPlayerTotal YardsPass Attempts Rank
201149ersKyle Williams27331st
201249ersN/AN/A31st
201349ersQuinton Patton (R)6032nd
201449ersBruce Ellington (R)9029th
2015BillsSammy Watkins (R)104831st
2019RavensMarquise Brown (R)58432nd
2020RavensMarquise Brown77032nd
2021RavensRashod Bateman (R)5159th
2022RavensRashod Bateman (R)28528th

There are a couple encouraging seasons here: Sammy Watkins had his best season during Roman's 18-game Buffalo pit stop (he was let go after the Bills started 0-2 in 2016), and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown had a solid sophomore season for him in Baltimore. Like these two, McConkey has strong draft capital tied to him so he should be fairly involved in this passing game.

But neither of those examples came with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach. Between Harbaugh and Roman's deep devotion to the run, Harbaugh's tendency for veteran deference and McConkey's college production profile suggesting he may be more suited to being a complementary piece than a true 'alpha' receiver at least initially, I'm pumping the brakes on the McConkey hype train.

—Luke Wilson

7 Reader Comments:

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2024-05-08T22:10:58Z
One thing in the favor of McConkey (and DJ Chark). Incoming Bosses typically have more than a little disdain for those guys whom the previous regime brought in. Ladd and DJ being 'Their!' Guys, I'm wagering on Ladd to lead the Chargers in catches, and DJ to lead them in yards.

Now just how many yards and how many catches that'll be from a Harbaugh/Roman offense, yeah, good question.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2024-05-08T22:19:54Z
Roman Wilson has some similarities to the Badd Ladd, I think -- smaller receivers who are doing it with know-how and craftiness rather than physical traits. Wilson was successful as the No. 1 guy at Michigan, catching half of the team's touchdowns. With Chargers, were looking at a lesser passing game, but I think it's either McConkey or Joshua Palmer as the top option. I will take McConkey over Palmer. And if McConkey is the top guy in a lesser passing offense, I think that means that he'll be catching more passes this year than almost all of the wide receivers selected in the first round.

Luke Wilson

Richardson, TX
2024-05-08T22:32:42Z
That is a good point Richard, and I am sure McConkey is central to the new Chargers administration's plans over the next 2-3 years. But when Harbaugh showed up in San Francisco back in 2011 the Niners had a third-year receiver who had mostly underwhelmed in his first two seasons with the team in Michael Crabtree. Harbaugh and Roman inherited him and he wound up leading the Niners in receiving in his first two seasons with the team.

I've got my eye on Joshua Palmer to possibly be an in-house guy that they lean on more than we are maybe expecting in 2024, and of course I'll be parsing any and all quotes from Harbaugh or Roman on what they think of Quentin Johnston to the nth degree.

The Roman Wilson comp is definitely a good one, and could well play out. But the Chargers cupboard really isn't as otherwise bare as a lot of folks seem to be thinking, so I definitely think Josh Palmer or maybe even Quentin Johnston could be surprisingly involved.

Cody Hager

Portland, OR
2024-05-08T22:38:28Z
The over/under on Draft Kings for Ladd McConkey is 825 receiving yards

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2024-05-08T22:54:10Z
825 seems pretty fair to me. I wouldn't be excited about trying to convince anyone to go over or under that number. On my projection, I've got him at 52 yards. That would put him at 884 yards if if last all 17 games, but it's a long season. McConkey had problems staying healthy at Georgia.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2024-05-08T23:28:04Z
I would take the under. Palmer and Johnston are holdovers from a previous regime but experience (particularly in Palmer’s case) and working some with the franchise QB have to count for something.

Although in the case of Chark, four different teams in four seasons has me thinking he’s unlikely to be a big factor…a hedge on either Johnston or McConkey really struggling in camp or something.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2024-05-09T14:27:12Z
Nice point, Luke. Thank you!
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