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Tag: Ladd
Ladd McConkey represents one who got away from the Patriots
FOXBOROUGH — For the Patriots, Saturday’s game against the Chargers will not only serve as a test against a playoff-ready roster, but a painful reminder of a draft weekend blunder from last spring.
After taking Drake Maye No. 3 overall, New England went into the second round of the draft with the 34th selection. The Patriots ended up dealing out of that spot with the Chargers, a trade that included a pick swap that saw Los Angeles also land a fifth-round pick, while the Patriots added an additional fourth-round choice.
With those picks, the Patriots took wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk at No. 37 and wide receiver Javon Baker at No. 110. With their choices, the Chargers drafted wide receiver Ladd McConkey (34th overall) and cornerback Tarheeb Still (137th).
In hindsight, the deal backfired on the Patriots. McConkey had 87 receiving yards last week against the Broncos. Polk has 87 on the season. A Georgia product, McConkey leads the Chargers with 69 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns, and will undoubtedly receive votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
McConkey has had three games of 100-plus receiving yards while flashing the production that’s made him a favorite of quarterback Justin Herbert.
“He runs such great routes and comes back at such a friendly angle,” Herbert said last month. “He’s never running into danger. He’s never running directly into a guy who’s going to cover him. He’s just got a great feel for zone [defenses] and has enough shiftiness to be able to beat man coverage.
“To have a combination like that, a guy who really understands defenses and how people want to play him, he just finds a way to get open.”
Still, a fifth-round choice out of Maryland, has made 10 starts this season, and has four interceptions — tied for second among rookies — as well as 10 pass breakups, a pick-6, and 51 tackles.
Meanwhile, Polk has struggled through an inconsistent rookie season, with 12 catches for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Baker has yet to register a reception.
Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk has just 12 catches this season.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff While the deal had major ramifications for both teams, McConkey remains the biggest name involved,and the biggest “what if?” of the draft for Patriots fans.
“We did some work on him,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said when asked about McConkey and the pre-draft process. “A guy that can get open versus man-to-man coverage.
“Look, he’s playing well right now. He also does a good job finding space in the zone coverages. He’s definitely a player you have to keep your eye on.”
While he’s operated primarily out of the slot, McConkey has seen time on the boundary as well, making him a challenge to cover for the Patriots.
“He’s definitely a go-to player for them,” said defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. “I would say for a rookie, he’s playing really, really well. Good quickness, good route runner. They’ll move him around. Motion him. So he’ll definitely be a point-of-attack guy for Saturday.”
Polk played well last summer and looked to be on track with five starts in his first six games. But a concussion appeared to set him back, and over the last eight games he’s had two catches on nine targets for 9 yards and a touchdown.
“That’s tough. 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,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said of Polk, who played just three snaps last Sunday against the Bills.
“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.”
Van Pelt said Kayshon Boutte is a good example of a receiver who took some time to come into his own. Last season, Boutte had just two catches for 19 yards in five games as a rookie. This year, the LSU product has 32 catches for 444 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games.
Van Pelt is betting on Polk and Baker to follow the same path.
“Absolutely. And that’s what it’s all about,” Van Pelt said. “I don’t see these guys as one-and-done players at all. They’re here to grow and develop in our system. I expect those guys to come out and help us a ton next year.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe.
Ladd McConkey represents one who got away from the PatriotsAs the NFL Draft approaches, one name that keeps popping up as a potential steal for a team is Ladd McConkey. The former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver has been turning heads with his impressive speed, agility, and hands, making him a coveted prospect for many teams.
But for New England Patriots fans, the name Ladd McConkey might stir up feelings of regret and missed opportunity. McConkey, a former walk-on at Georgia, was not heavily recruited coming out of high school and could have easily slipped through the cracks for many teams, including the Patriots.
With the Patriots in need of a reliable receiver to complement their offense, McConkey could have been a perfect fit. His ability to make tough catches in traffic and create separation from defenders could have been a valuable asset for New England’s passing game.
But alas, it seems that the Patriots missed out on the opportunity to draft McConkey, as he is projected to be a mid-round pick in this year’s draft. As other teams look to capitalize on his potential, the Patriots will have to look elsewhere for their next great receiver.
So as draft day approaches, Patriots fans may be left wondering what could have been if Ladd McConkey had ended up in New England. But for now, they can only watch as he potentially becomes a star for another team, representing the one who got away from the Patriots.
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