Mel Kiper Jr. explains Ladd McConkey's first-round potential

Ladd McConkey‘s 2024 NFL Draft stock is on the rise following another standout season at Georgia and an impressive performance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, earlier this month.

How high McConkey will go is the question, with most slapping a Day 2 grade on him to this point. But that could soon change, with ESPN‘s Mel Kiper Jr. saying he believes McConkey will find a way into the first-round, most likely near the back half with teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs looking for receiver help.

“Ladd McConkey can fly. Ladd McConkey catches everything,” Kiper said this week. “[He’s] plug and play. … I think Ladd finds a way in there [first-round]. I don’t think Ladd McConkey in the first-round is a stunt, I really don’t. It’s real. If you watch [Brock] Bowers and McConkey, how can you not love them? They were such an integral part of a team that won two national titles. And this year, lost to Alabama when they were all banged up.”

Ladd McConkey getting first-round buzz after impressive Senior Bowl showing

Pre-Senior Bowl, Kiper had McConkey ranked as his No. 9 wideout prospect. Post-Super Bowl, McConkey now sits fifth on his list. He is behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington’s Rome Odunze and the LSU tandem of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

McConkey, 22, suited up in nine games for the Bulldogs this past season. He hauled in 30 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns. McConkey finished second on Georgia in receiving the year prior [behind Bowers], coming down with a career-high 58 catches for 762 yards and seven scores. He earned second-team All-SEC honors that season, helping the Bulldogs win their second consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship. McConkey was named the receiver of the week for the American Team at the Senior Bowl.

“One of the top route runners in the class, McConkey is poised to be an easy winner at Senior Bowl practices, particularly in the one-on-one drills. One day in, and that’s exactly what happened,” PFF‘s Trevor Sikkema said of his Senior Bowl performance. “It felt like no defensive back wanted to stand across the line from McConkey, knowing they’d likely be on the wrong end of a social media video. McConkey placed in the 83rd percentile of separation created versus single coverage over the past two years.