Chargers WR Ladd McConkey's stock surges at training camp

LA Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey crafted a connection with Justin Herbert at OTAs and it has carried over into training camp. As LA looks to figure out their main rotation of receivers prior to the regular season, their 2024 second-round pick has had a notable presence at this years' offseason festivities in El Segundo.

Through six practices from July 24-30, McConkey has arguably been the most impressive receiver. He was tied for the team lead in catches (10) with DJ Chark, per reporting done by The Athletic's Daniel Popper. McConkey has in that span had just one reported drop along with two touchdowns.

Steven Haglund of the Guilty as Charged podcast reported that McConkey was the primary "short area and intermediate" receiver in the practices he watched. His reporting also indicates that the team isn't just using him as the main slot receiver, which is the perception of some media with McConkey given his size.

Per Haglund, McConkey was used as the backside flanker and Z-receiver while also lining up in the backfield and in motion.

The highlight that got the most attention was at Saturday's practice when Herbert linked up with McConkey on a play that originally looked dead in the water:

Ladd McConkey is turning heads at Chargers training camp

McConkey was originally projected to be one of the members of the starting trio in 11 personnel entering camp by the aforementioned Popper. It's safe to say that no other receiver's performance have really moved him off of that trajectory.

Josh Palmer has played well, but he continues to rehab from his knee injury last season. He has not been as present in team drills as in previous years, despite probably still projecting as the teams' WR1.

DJ Chark has done well in training camp with similar receiving statistics to that of McConkey, but he'll project more as the team's primary X-receiver. While Johnston will get plenty of snaps in the rotation, McConkey has simply shined more without the drop issues.

Herbert and Keenan Allen's connection from both the slot and outside could not be denied in their four seasons together. While it's still too early to say that McConkey will eventually reach those heights, the former Georgia receiver continues to "stack days" as HC Jim Harbaugh would say.

The analytics suggest that McConkey is the best route runner on the team who consistently creates the most separation. If he continues to show that in training camp and the preseason, it'll be hard to deny a case for at least WR2 (and potentially WR1) by volume when the 2024 season kicks off.

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