McConkey is already becoming next great Patriots draft fumble

Patriots

The Patriots’ decision to trade the pick used to select McConkey and draft Ja’Lynn Polk has not aged well.

You know the names at this point.

A.J. Brown. DK Metcalf. Deebo Samuel. 

The Patriots’ inability to draft impact players has played a critical role in the franchise’s decline from Super Bowl contender to AFC cellar-dwellers. 

To further twist the knife, draft busts like N’Keal Harry, Joejuan Williams, and Tyquan Thornton were brought into Foxborough over legitimate star talents like the aforementioned trio of top wideouts.

And now, it looks like Chargers star rookie Ladd McConkey is ready to join that growing list of “what if?” players who slipped through New England’s grasp on draft day. 

The shifty Chargers receiver has already developed into a top target for Justin Herbert in Los Angeles — reeling in 69 catches for 960 receiving yards and five touchdowns already in 2024.

McConkey has now recorded at least 50 receiving yards in eight consecutive games — the longest streak for a rookie since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014. 

The sight of McConkey routinely moving the chains with the Chargers is especially painful for New England. It’s not just because of the Patriots’ largely punchless receiving corps, but because Los Angeles drafted McConkey with a second-round pick (No. 34) that was originally held by the Patriots. 

The Chargers gained that No. 34 pick as part of an NFL Draft deal with New England, with the Patriots dealing that second-round selection and the 137th pick to Los Angeles in exchange for picks No. 37 and No. 110. 

The move allowed the Chargers to take McConkey, while New England selected Ja’Lynn Polk three picks later before adding another wideout in Javon Baker with the 110th pick.

It was a move that quickly devolved into a disaster for New England.

Not only has McConkey thrived right out of the gate for the Chargers, but both Polk and Baker have showcased very little in Foxborough — even with Drake Maye’s emergence at quarterback.

Polk has just 12 catches, equating to just 87 total receiving yards and two touchdowns. Baker has only appeared in eight games for New England, recording zero catches off of just two targets.

McConkey alone recorded six catches for 87 yards in the Chargers’ last game against the Broncos — equaling the receiving yardage from both Polk and Baker all season long. 

Even with Jerod Mayo’s emphasis on carving out more playing time for rookies down the stretch, neither Polk nor Baker have factored heavily into New England’s game plans over the last month.  Polk played just three total snaps on offense during last Sunday’s road loss to the Bills. 

“Like I’ve said before, with him coming in as a rookie, you don’t always light it up in your first year. It takes some time to adjust to the pro game,” Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said of Polk Thursday. “Again, tons of confidence with Polk. Baker as well. 

“Excited to get those guys going. If we can get it this year, great. If not, an offseason to help them learn the system. Sometimes, things don’t go your way. You just have to prove yourself out of it. That’s what we continue to encourage with Polk. I’m not down on him at all.”

To make matters worse, the Chargers have also benefited from the fifth-round pick (No. 137 overall) that the Patriots handed them in that swap — selecting cornerback Tarheeb Still out of Maryland. Still has made 10 starts already for the Chargers, recording four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. 

Now, the Patriots will have to contend with both McConkey and Still on Saturday when the Chargers come to Gillette Stadium. 

“We did some work on him (before the draft),” Jerod Mayo said of McConkey on Thursday. “A guy that can open versus man-to-man coverage. He’s playing well right now. He also does a good job finding space in the zone coverages. He’s definitely a player you’ve got to keep your eye on.”

While the presence of a shifty slot receiver like DeMario Douglas might have made McConkey a less-appealing draft target for New England over Polk, it’s tough to ignore the stats — and considerable upside — that McConkey already boasts on the gridiron. 

Even with Maye offering plenty of promise, the Patriots are still on the prowl for a proven, No. 1 receiver. New England has not had a wideout surpass 1,000 yards in a single season since Julian Edelman accomplished the feat in 2019.