Ladd McConkey describes feeling of the Chargers trading up for him

The Los Angeles Chargers traded up three spots last month to draft former Georgia Bulldogs star Ladd McConkey and he’s glad that they did. McConkey went with the second pick in the second round at No. 34 overall and the Chargers gave up a fourth-round selection in exchange for a fifth-round pick to do it. Asked how he felt about the team trading up for him, the wide receiver said it motivated him that much more.

“I think you always want to go where you’re wanted,” McConkey said. “When you hear that, you want to be there that much more. Now I’m excited to get through this, get to training camp, get to the season and get rolling.”

After the Chargers selected McConkey in the second round, he’s now expected to make an impact right away, especially since the team lost veteran receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen. Due to injuries, the wideout didn’t have his best season in 2023 as the Bulldogs went back-to-back, however, he did enough to win over his new team. When healthy, he had 30 passes for 478 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 38 rushing yards and one touchdown on two carries.

In 2022, McConkey caught 58 passes for 762 yards and seven touchdowns. He also had 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts. His production during the 2022 season earned him a second-team All-SEC selection.

McConkey on Harbaugh: ‘He’s a great guy’

McConkey also shared his thoughts on Jim Harbaugh who joined the team as head coach this year after spending nine seasons with the Michigan Wolverines.

“Once I’ve got around him (and) started talking to him, he’s a great guy,” McConkey said. “He really truly cares about all his players and what’s best for them.”

Harbaugh knows McConkey very well as he faced him when the Wolverines took on the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 College Football Playoff Seminals (for the 2021 season). In that game, McConkey only had two receptions for 14 yards, but the Bulldogs won the game 34-11 and went on to win the national title.

After the second day of the draft, Harbaugh revealed what he likes about McConkey.

“Love the speed, 4.38 [40-yard dash], but he plays to it,” Harbaugh said, per the Chargers’ official website. “He plays to that 4.38 every single play, you can see it in the way that he rages off of the ball, and once he has the ball in his hands.

The Chargers begin the 2024 NFL season with a familiar foe – the Las Vegas Raiders. They’ll face off on Sept. 8, which will be McConkey’s NFL debut.