Puka Nacua dazzled in his rookie season as a wideout for the Los Angeles Rams, finishing fourth in the NFL in receiving yards. ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit thinks a follow-up act is on the way from a soon-to-be rookie wideout.
And right now, that follow-up act is at the 2024 NFL Combine in the form of former Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey. As he worked out for NFL teams on Saturday, Herbstreit lodged his prediction on social media.
“Ladd McConkey will be this years Puka!” Herbstreit said.
The big difference between the two is likely to be draft slot. Nacua was a fifth-round pick, selected No. 177 overall by the Rams. While McConkey isn’t in the upper echelon of this receiver-loaded class, he’s a fringe first round talent, depending on who you ask. He’s likely to be a Day 2 selection — Rounds 2 and 3 — if he doesn’t get selected in the back half of the first round.
There’s also a notable size difference, as Nacua is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and McConkey weighed in at the 2024 NFL Combine at 186 pounds and measured 5-foot-11 (and some change). Thusly, they have different play styles, despite both working best out of the slot in their careers so far. Nacua was a yards after catch monster for the Rams and feasted on crossing routes; McConkey has a bit more ability as a route runner to generate separation and snap off defenders, but won’t be as imposing as a ball carrier as Nacua.
The point Herbstreit is likely getting at, though, could certainly hold up: Highly productive college receiver translates to highly productive rookie receiver that folks might not have seen coming.
All that’s left for McConkey is getting drafted and going on to record something in the ballpark of 105 receptions, 1486 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns as a rookie.
One draft analyst explained why McConkey has first round upside
McConkey’s 2024 NFL Draft stock went 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.”
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