3 Wide Receivers the Chargers Must Target at No. 37

2. Ladd McConkey, Georgia

Ladd McConkey isn't a "wow" pick like uber-athlete Mitchell, but his fit in the Chargers offense may actually be better.

McConkey is maybe this year's best pure route-runner out of the slot. He was limited to nine games in 2023, but in 2022 Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him a ridiculous 95.4 receiving grade on short passes. And it's not like his 88.4 grade in 2023 was anything to scoff at either.

When you consider how Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer were used last year, it makes sense to look for a guy who can win underneath like McConkey. Johnson led the team with a 12.9-yard average depth of target (aDOT) and Palmer's 11.4-yard mark only barely trailed Mike Williams' 11.8.

To some extent you do just want to get the best receivers on the field, but no offense is going to thrive having their top three wideouts all trying to work deep on every play. And miscasting a guy who should be a deep threat on the outside in an underneath role could be a surefire way to stifle their growth and development in the pros.

McConkey wouldn't be a sexy pick, but he'd be a smart one.