Kirk Herbstreit clarifies Ladd McConkey, Puka Nacua tweet

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit went to Twitter for an NFL Draft comparison, saying Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey will be “this year’s” Puka Nacua. After being selected in the fifth round last year, Nacua exploded with the Los Angeles Rams and was named second-team All-Pro. Not what you would expect from a rookie picked on Day 3.

McConkey is likely going to be selected higher than where Nucua was last season, allowing Herbstreit to explain the comparison. He sees somebody who was highly productive in college translating well to the NFL and quite quickly.

“I’m talking about what he’ll be able to do on the field,” Herbstreit said. “I think Puka settled in very nicely into what Sean (McVay) wanted to do. He was an afterthought after camp and then became a household name. I just think Ladd McConkey is a guy that has done it at the highest level very consistently for Georgia as they’re chasing national titles.”

Herbstreit also mentioned how Nacua was kind of forgotten about during the draft process. Nobody thought he would turn into one of the NFL’s top receivers. Otherwise, all 32 teams, including the Rams, would have picked him a whole lot higher.

This is where the comparison from Herbstreit really kicks into gear. At times, McConkey can be forgotten about due to the firepower of Georgia. So many skill position guys come through Athens and take all of the headlines. Even so, McConkey is the most consistent of the bunch and winds up being the playmaker.

“There’s a lot of guys you talk about on Georgia,” Herbstreit said. “Even when I would call Georgia games, there are so many people to talk about, Ladd McConkey would kind of just get pushed to the back. Meanwhile, making play after play but maybe not as dynamic as a Brock Bowers.”

McConkey dealt with injuries this past season, only playing in nine games. He still went for 478 yards and two touchdowns on just 30 receptions. The year prior, 58 catches turned into 762 yards and seven touchdowns while winning a second straight national championship with the Bulldogs.

Putting up those types of numbers would likely be considered a success as a rookie in the NFL. But if the Nucua comparison sticks, there will be some tough numbers to beat. Nucua finished with 105 receptions, 1,486 receiving yards, and six touchdowns in his historic rookie season.