Ladd McConkey landed his first appearance on the NFL’s Top 100 list this year, entering at No. 100 overall.
At first glance, the accolade looks like a worthy acknowledgment of his outstanding rookie campaign. Yet scrutinize the statistics more closely, and one gets a more distinct sense of omission than of honor.
McConkey’s debut campaign totaled 1,148 receiving yards, eight touchdowns, and 76 catches on 104 targets, all accomplished despite him missing two games because of a midseason injury. He brought in 15.1 yards per reception and registered a catch rate above 73 percent.
Chargers' Ladd McConkey cracks NFL top-100 list (yet still gets disrespected)
Coupled with his explosiveness, that level of efficiency transformed him into the third-down weapon of choice and tormented defensive backs in open space. McConkey broke the Chargers’ rookie records, previously held by Keenan Allen.
In the Wild Card game versus the Houston Texans, McConkey produced a record-breaking showing of 11 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the Chargers’ loss, McConkey shattered the NFL’s record for receiving yards by a rookie in a single postseason game.
It was not simply stats; he ruled the game. He slipped past man coverage and manned zones, and reeled in several contested catches, including his 86-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-26. It was one of those performances that proclaims a rookie’s debut, and more importantly, heralds a star.
Justin Jefferson’s Rookie Year Comparison
Considered by many to be the new benchmark among rookie receivers, Justin Jefferson caught 88 passes for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns during his inaugural 2020 season. Still, Jefferson accumulated 13 extra targets and hauled in six additional receptions than McConkey.
Even though he deserved the accolades for his rookie campaign, Jefferson ranked in at No. 53 on the NFL Top 100 following the season.
My question is: What gives? Why is McConkey ranked 47 spots lower after his star rookie season?
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A lot of people fall back on the strong depth of receivers in the 2024 draft class. Each of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. arrived with enormous hype and went on to have standout seasons.
Yet McConkey didn’t merely qualify for that conversation; he steered it at various points. He wasn’t afforded the chance to share the targets with a Pro Bowl veteran or to run routes in a pass-heavy offense. He powered the machine in a run-heavy scheme.
His placement at No. 100 seems more like an interim spot than an accurate gauge of how much he impacted the game. The tape seals the argument. The numbers verify it. The evidence is in the moments.
To be honest, Ladd McConkey is far more than one of the top rookies in the NFL. He ranks among the NFL’s best receivers, no question. And if, for whatever reason, the league hasn’t noticed yet, they will soon.
Congratulations to Ladd McConkey for cracking the NFL’s Top 100 after only one season, but you deserve more.