Something To Think About For April’s Draft: Ladd McConkey
February 21st, 2024
Georgia WR Ladd McConkey.
So the following got the cogs in Joe’s cranium rolling.
The Bucs hired Georgia wide receivers coach Bryan McLendon to coach up the Tampa Bay receivers. That got folks speculating a Bucs draft target would be Georgia star wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
After all, who knows McConkey better than his college position coach? Joe could see the math. Mike Evans, the greatest wide receiver in Bucs history, may leave in a few weeks. After Chris Godwin, who could be a free agent this time next year, what do the Bucs have?
Trey Palmer has wheels but he went sometimes for weeks last year without making an impact play.
After Palmer, then what, Deven Thompkins? He doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table. Injury-prone Russell Gage (remember him?) will likely be cut in the coming weeks.
So a year from now if Evans and Godwin are gone, the Bucs wide receiver room could be filled largely with new faces. So yeah, drafting a receiver now might be smart.
Joe filed this all away for fodder later in April. However, a Twitter from former NFL scout and current NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, for whom Joe has a ton of respect, got Joe’s juices flowing. Jeremiah noted that his notes after film work for cornerbacks revealed one note that often repeated itself.
“Struggled vs. McConkey.”
Joe’s attention for McConkey was now fully aroused.
Yeah, McConkey, a three-year starter at Georgia, is a slithery guy who finds holes in the defense. And he gets a lot of YAC (yards after catch). He is used to SEC speed, so McConkey’s adjustment to the NFL shouldn’t be severe.
Also, McConkey returns punts for the Bulldogs. Nice.
McConkey is expected to run a 40-yard dash next week at the combine in the 4.4-4.5 range, per WalterFootball.com. Joe has looked at various respected mock drafts (this time of the year those things are as much feces thrown on the wall as accurate) and it appears McConkey might be a high second-round pick. The PFF tribe currently thinks he is the 25th-best prospect. Hhhmmm?
Would No. 26 be too high for McConkey? Or would Bucs’ AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht trade back, stash an extra third-round pick, and call McConkey’s name on Day 2 of the draft?
McConkey is an interesting prospect, more so because of his newfound connection to Bucs coaches.
Typing in my notes from CB class and keep seeing this on my paper- struggled vs McConkey
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 21, 2024
Georgia WR Ladd McConkey is a fave of mine!
He has elite start-stop and lateral quickness – really aides him in his route running and ability to get creative.
He’s also got more juice than you think he does. 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/1D9MDZfZjr
— Brett Whitefield (@BGWhitefield) February 17, 2024
February 21st, 2024 at 4:29 pm
Go Bucs
February 21st, 2024 at 4:31 pm
ME13 will be big shoes to fill, so you best start throwing something on the wall to replace him.
February 21st, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Reach
February 21st, 2024 at 4:46 pm
This is not a reach. Its replacement by committee. They could afford 3 quality WR’s for the possible price it might cost to bring ME13 back.
February 21st, 2024 at 4:49 pm
I beg to disagree with DT , he has not been given any or many opportunities to be the ball on the move in a quick up tempo play, hopefully the new offensive coordinator will take advantage of his open field moves, he is tough and nails for his size and has never been afraid of contact!
February 21st, 2024 at 4:50 pm
Walter Football has him ranked as the #12 WR for this draft. Here’s his writeup …
1/27/24: McConkey was out with a back injury until the final game of September. After some quiet outings, McConkey (6-135-1) came alive against Florida. He caught 29 passes in 2023 for 456 yards and two touchdowns.
9/2/23: McConkey is not the biggest or the fastest receiver, but he is a gritty football player who came up with some clutch plays for the Bulldogs in their back-to-back National Championship seasons. In 2022, he recorded 58 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns. It was a big improvement over 2021 (31-447-5). McConkey might fit best as a slot receiver for the NFL.
February 21st, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Kinda sounds a lot like Adam Humphries to me.
February 21st, 2024 at 5:22 pm
How can a player that has not been selected be called a reach? Unless you’re saying he’s a reach with our first round pick, which I would find it highly unlikely that we would select him there. Worth of look in the second round though or beyond if he makes it that far.
February 21st, 2024 at 5:22 pm
I like the idea of picking the Georgia TE better…..but it’s a step in the right direction…..we need to strengthen our offense.
Trading down would work for McConkey.
How about lets get a C/G…..TE, RB, WR with our first 4 & a S with our 5th pick (round 6 if there isn’t a trade down.
And…..why would we let Godwin go just when we are starting to free up some cap?
February 21st, 2024 at 5:27 pm
Lets all hope we keep Evans and get McConkey somewhere in the second round after having picked an edge rusher in the first round which is a must.
February 21st, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Mike Evans stats will not be a 1 for 1 replacement.
It will come from multiple players.
It happens. It’ll be ok evanslovers.
February 21st, 2024 at 5:35 pm
Calm down Joe – this kid has talent but is a 3rd-4th round pick…
Not to mention he is only one year removed from major knee surgery.
From ESPN – “Ladd McConkey, was ruled out of the second half of the SEC championship game on Saturday after experiencing what coach Kirby Smart called tendinitis in his knees.”
Knee tendinitis? BUYER BEWARE!
If he is available with our 3rd round pick I would probably pick him up but not in round #1.
February 21st, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Day two would be too high
February 21st, 2024 at 5:55 pm
I like my WR’s to be a little taller than Ladd at 6ft.
Yes I know Tyreek Hill is a midget.
February 21st, 2024 at 5:57 pm
If we lose Mike Evans the Bucs first pick should be WR – Keon Coleman – FSU.
He should still be available at #26 and has nice hands, good size and spped…
February 21st, 2024 at 6:17 pm
I like talking about the draft, that’s all us old timer (58) Bucs fans had to look forward to in many of the early seasons. Would I take a WR in the 1st Round this year? Only if Mike Evans signs elsewhere.
February 21st, 2024 at 6:42 pm
Experienced FAs will be looking to come, as long as we have our ProBowl QB.
Michael Pittman jr., Josh Reynolds, or Tre Higgins.
Would could sign two, with the money we would have spent on Mike if he leaves.
I would rather him stay, but we can put together an impressive group of proven WRs, if Mike wants to leave.
As always. The key is Mayfield. If we dont sign Mayfield- no chance Mike stays.
He aint gonna wanna spend his last years with some snot nosed rookie.
If we dont sign Mayfield- no top WRs are gonna come here.
You sign Mayfield, we will have Great Wrs. One way or another.
If we dont sign Mayfield, well, who cares.
Team will suck.
The NFL IS ALL ABOUT THE QB. If you have one, then you are relevant.
If you dont, you are irrelevant.
Its that simple
February 21st, 2024 at 6:47 pm
I’d like to find a tall guy, all our non-Evans people are 6 footers
February 21st, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Potential Draft Picks: WR
• Xavier Worthy
• Roman Wilson
• Malachi Corley
• Jamari Thrash
• Malik Washington
February 21st, 2024 at 7:06 pm
UDFA Project: Ryan Flournoy
February 21st, 2024 at 7:14 pm
Don’t sleep on WR Malik Washington. The kid’s got that Steve Smith-type dog in him.
February 21st, 2024 at 7:27 pm
FSU’s Johnny Wilson is listed as one of Feldman’s Top Freaks:
“At almost 6 feet 7, 239 pounds, he has 36-inch arms, 10 1/4 inch hands and a standing reach of 8-10. He also has a 35.5 inch vertical and a 10-5 broad jump. In games, he’s topped out at 21.23 MPH with a max acceleration of 5.26 m/s and has a max deceleration of -7.21 m/s.”
Johnny Wilson is a much better option if ME13 moves on in free agency than any of the other receivers in this draft.
February 21st, 2024 at 7:27 pm
I’d rather have Pearsall. He’s bigger, faster and has better hands.
February 21st, 2024 at 7:39 pm
TBBF- TE Bowers is probably going to be off the board at 6-10th pick. It would take too much draft capital to go up and get him. Why would Godwin be gone after next year? Being a huge CG fan it hurts me to say it but he’s not a 20 million a year player anymore. 80 catches is alright, 1000 yards isn’t bad, 2 TDs is not good. Will he bounce back? Has he not lost a step and just misused last season? I hear people that know much more than me say he’s not the same player after the ACL. Unless he either rebounds big or will take a huge pay cut he probably won’t be resigned here in ‘26.
February 21st, 2024 at 7:51 pm
I love this time of year…because LUVMYBUCS comes up with amazing posts full of information!
On the first pick, we need a Center. Whether Evans is still a Buc or not. (He will be)
February 21st, 2024 at 7:54 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says
“And…..why would we let Godwin go just when we are starting to free up some cap?”
I also don’t think he’ll be a Buc in 2026. I suspect he’s going to go diva on us in 2024.
February 21st, 2024 at 8:02 pm
The FSU WR are a big raw but have really high ceilings. Coleman will go 24-30th and Wilson 60-90. It wouldn’t surprise me to see both of their stocks improve after the combine. FSU RB Benson is slotted to go somewhere in between those two around 60.
February 21st, 2024 at 8:53 pm
I’m fine with Coleman or Wilson as a Buc.
Sometimes tough decisions have to be made.
February 21st, 2024 at 9:44 pm
You guys should watch tape on Adonai Mitchell from Texas.
I think trading back in the 1st this guy might still be available.
He didn’t have a ton of yards 845 or something but had 11 TDs and is an Elite route runner. His YPG was 15.4 so comparable to ME13.
Coleman might still be available in the early 2nd as well.
6’4” 200lbs and runs a 4.38 40. This guy has future stud written all over him.
He will probably move up draft boards after the combine, but trading back is smart I think at 26.
February 21st, 2024 at 9:46 pm
Mitchell is that size sorry that was confusing.
February 21st, 2024 at 9:51 pm
Probably 4th round at the very earliest.
February 21st, 2024 at 10:12 pm
I love Mike, but any re-up has to come with ‘24 cap relief given Godwin’s massive hit this year (somewhere north of $25M). Otherwise too much dough on WRs. We need help all over…especially with a pass rush.
February 21st, 2024 at 10:42 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai
I appreciate the compliment, brotha
February 21st, 2024 at 10:46 pm
BillyBucco
If we lose out Mike Evans Adonai Mitchell would be another solid option.
February 21st, 2024 at 11:02 pm
Not impressed Joe, the highlights you cherry picked of him were from broken coverages, not tight man to man coverages or clever route running to find an opening in zone coverages. We need good pass rushers and good run blockers, not mediocre rookies
February 21st, 2024 at 11:56 pm
son of phil mcconkey ?
🙂
February 22nd, 2024 at 12:37 am
A much stronger argument to draft this guy than a QB at this point
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:30 am
I trust JL.
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:42 am
The draft for who an what position is anybodys guess till we sign or don’t sign our guys.
Might as well say the long snapper PU Tech is our 1st rounder. Joking but not much.
Go bucs!
February 22nd, 2024 at 2:53 am
Capt Tim loves him some Baker Mayfield
February 22nd, 2024 at 6:19 am
“More juice than you think he does?”
Why? Because his melanin levels are low?
Im really tired of the “white boy racism” in America.
Christian McCaffery suffered it his entire life.
Steve Nash suffered it.
Jordy Nelson suffered it.
Why do Americans assume things about human beings based on melanin?
Come to Morocco. I have lived here for 13 years.
You see Homo sapiens of every level of melanin.
We have red haired people. People with Afros and blue eyes.
People with blond Afros. We have every color os skin, hair, and eye you can imagine.
And guess what?
Moroccans don’t care. They don’t make judgments or assumptions about each other based on melanin levels!
Come to Morocco habibi. See you for yourself.
Morocco is the original melting pot of DNA.
February 22nd, 2024 at 8:41 am
There seems to be some bias to the Florida State receivers today on this blog. I know that Draft Buzz had 21 receivers in their top 100 of all prospects. In contrast there are only 2 TE’s in their top 100.
Feels like to me that Buc’s are more likely to come out of the draft with a viable receiver over a viable TE. If it is an FSU guy, fine. But seems like there are lots of other receivers too.
February 22nd, 2024 at 10:16 am
He is a slot WR and that is where Godwin is moving back to
February 22nd, 2024 at 10:54 am
No thank you Joe . Devontez walker out of UNC in the 3rd to “replace” ME13
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:16 pm
TRENCHES
February 22nd, 2024 at 1:44 pm
If you want a good slot receiver who just somehow always manages to get open, look at Drake Stoops out of Oklahoma. He’s probably a UDFA, cause he’s short and not real fast, but he catches nearly everything and get’s open. Reminds me of Brian Hartline a lot.
Would be a good pickup who would have a shot at making the team.
February 22nd, 2024 at 4:04 pm
I really think that all of the draft speculation leading up to the real thing gets a lot of people paid to much for something that usually doesn’t happen here in Tampa. It’s really hard to say what we will do because the AC/DC man always surprise’s. So it’s been a headache for all. Hahaha 🤣!!!