Prospect Profile: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Context

Plays mostly outside as the Z receiver but has spent some time in the slot.

Before the Catch

When facing soft press, he is able to use his footwork and his change of direction to win off the line against most competition. This is also true when executing a space release; he has a nice package of tactics to close the space and then converts to a press release seamlessly. When facing a jam in any of these situations, he will win consistently against lesser competition who don’t time their jam well. Against better competition though – those DBs with a plan and good play strength – he can be pinned at the line, or significantly pushed off his route to the sideline, partly due to his play strength, partly due to his hand timing. He can compete though and if the DB makes a mistake with his jam, he can take full advantage of that.

When he faces off or bail coverage he’s at his most dangerous for gaining separation at the top of his route as he closes the space quickly and has a remarkably consistent stem that even the highest processing DBs are unable to read. He attacks leverage expertly and sets up his break. He’s technically impressive on lots of different types of routes and wins often with a combination of solid athleticism and outstanding technique and salesmanship. Everything he does is crisp and sudden even if he doesn’t play with elite athleticism and therefore explosion. On two-step breaks, he gets in and out of the break so quickly; he has a good break step followed by a better drive step and he’s able to use his hip mobility to make the turn quickly. When operating out of the slot he’s also able to use some play strength to disengage smaller DBs. He has an excellent speed cut for quick outs and slants. There is no rise and he can make the transition to perpendicular to the line of scrimmage remarkably quickly. He can sink his weight well and snap off his acceleration on deep comebacks. His consistent stem means many of his routes when he’s facing off coverage are always open, especially on hitch routes where he’s a Quarterback’s dream outlet if throwing with timing against the blitz. His hip mobility comes into play on all these types of route, but he also isn’t afraid to work right into the Defensive Back before breaking. The consistency in his stem helps him get open on deeper routes like corners and posts that call for a bam step, he can disguise the break and fool even the most savvy DBs.

The Catch and after the Catch

Outstanding hands on all types of throw, he has excellent ball tracking on downfield throws and attacks all types of target with the correct hand position, especially good catching outside his frame. Not a huge catch radius but will catch everything in it consistently. Great adjust to balls thrown over different shoulders and to balls thrown towards the sideline and getting feet in bounds..

SUMMARY
Likely very effective no.2 if paired with a dominant no.1. Technically excellent competitor, solid athleticism. Won’t win with speed, can get pinned at the line against the very best.

PRODUCTION
JR: 37 Tgts, 30 Recs, 483 Rec Yards (16.1 Ave), 2 Rec TDs
SO: 76 Tgts, 58 Recs, 762 Rec Yards (13.1 Ave), 7 Rec TDs
INJURY: Back and ankle injuries (JR), missed 5 games

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 3
Intelligence 5
Versatility 4
Grit 5
Scheme 4