Ladd McConkey was a revelation as a rookie, dominating as the Los Angeles Chargers’ WR1 out of the gate.
As a rookie, McConkey led the Chargers with 1,149 receiving yards and 82 catches, and added seven touchdowns. No other L.A. player reached the 750-yard mark.
McConkey spent the bulk of his time operating out of the slot (65% of his snaps, per Next Gen Stats), but offensive coordinator Greg Roman suggested that this year, the Chargers would like to move him around more to create mismatches.
“Ladd was such a -- not a surprise – but he was such a weapon,” Roman said on a recent episode of the Chargers Weekly Podcast. “I mean, just so dependable. We were able to do things with Ladd in Year 1 that you generally don’t do with a guy until Year 3 or 4. His football IQ, a lot of different things that give him options to get open and stuff like that, graduate-level stuff, as I like to call it. We’re really looking forward to growing in that department, too, because our receiving corps right now, compared to this time last year, it’s night and day.”
Given the makeup of the wideout corps, McConkey still profiles as the prominent slot receiver, with Quentin Johnston, Mike Williams and second-rounder Tre Harris as the top options on the outside. However, Roman noted that moving McConkey around more will ensure defenses won’t easily be able to double him.
“We’re gonna move him around,” Roman said. “The guy’s got some serious talent and a serious will to get it done. Even in the playoff game, look at his production in the playoff game. He’s a guy that we’re just gonna continue to grow with. But when they double Ladd, you’ve got to play the percentages. The ball needs to go somewhere else. … So, that’s gonna open up opportunities for everybody else, and we’ve got to take advantage of those.”
Last year, it was McConkey, Johnston, and little else. Veteran Josh Palmer, who left in free agency, was third on the club with 584 receiving yards. The return of Williams, Johnston getting another year of seasoning, and the additions of rookies Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith give the Chargers more options alongside the slot maven.
“They’re a completely different unit now from a discipline standpoint, being on point play in and down in, down out. And I think we’ve added a lot of talent,” Roman said of the wideout crew. “Really excited about our two draft picks. I think those guys are affording themselves well. Ladd’s gonna get better and better. Q (Quentin Johnston) is having a great spring so far, so I see him taking another step this year. And then Jalen Reagor, J.J. (Jaylen Johnson), and obviously Mike, all these guys are gonna factor in. Love how that group’s playing right now and excited about them. The rookies, we’re just gonna keep pushing them, pushing them, pushing them to get up to par with the vets.”
The running game, featuring first-rounder Omarion Hampton and free agent Najee Harris, should improve in 2025. If Justin Herbert can get more weapons than just McConkey, it would make the Chargers' passing attack exponentially more dangerous.
The Chargers finished 11-6 in Jim Harbaugh’s first season in L.A. If the offense improves in Year 2, they could be a threat to the Kansas City Chiefs’ division dominance.