Justin Herbert on Ladd McConkey: 'It's like he's been a 4- or 5-year vet'

It’s been an offseason of change for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. Two of his top targets – Keenan Allen and Mike Williams – are out, as is running back Austin Ekeler, meaning the offense will take on a new look as Jim Harbaugh takes over.

A key part of the new plan is former Georgia star Ladd McConkey. The Chargers selected him with the No. 34 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he made an early impact through minicamp.

In fact, he drew some high praise from Herbert, who’s entering his fifth season in the NFL. He said McConkey doesn’t act like a rookie with the way he handles information. He looks like someone who knows his way around the league.

“He’s just picked up the offense so easily. It’s like he’s been a four- or five-year vet,” Herbert said, via ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “He understands the game.”

McConkey battled through injuries last season, but was one of Georgia’s top playmakers over his three years. He ended his career in Athens with 1,687 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. That includes 478 yards and two touchdowns in just nine games as a junior.

But with such talented playmakers out of the picture, McConkey could find himself taking on a prominent role during his rookie campaign. With his playmaking ability and a blistering 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, he could be an exciting weapon for Herbert in Harbaugh and Greg Roman’s new-look system.

“He can be an outside receiver. He can be a slot receiver. Love the speed, 4.38 [40-yard dash], but he plays to it. 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,” Harbaugh said after the Chargers selected McConkey in the draft. “Me and Joe [Hortiz] were talking about him, he’s very Brock Bowers-like with the way that he gets yards after the catch.

“Competitor, big-time. Those things. He catches the ball. A terrific route-runner. He has the quickness, he has the speed that is going to be great for our offense. I love the guys that can run in the 4.3s.”

Ladd McConkey will look to further cement his role in Los Angeles when the Chargers open training camp later this month. Their report date is coming up July 23.