Could Ladd McConkey Be the First Chargers All-Pro WR Since 1996?

The Los Angeles Chargers are no strangers to producing high-level talent at wide receiver. From Lance Alworth to Keenan Allen, the franchise has seen its fair share of stars in the passing game. Despite all the talent to come through Southern California, it’s been nearly three decades since the Chargers had a wide receiver named an NFL All-Pro. That last honor came in 1996, when Tony Martin, a deep-threat dynamo, earned the distinction. Since then, the Chargers have had Pro Bowlers and record-setters, but none have cracked the All-Pro list at wideout. It's the longest active drought in the NFL at the position. Now, second-year wideout Ladd McConkey is looking to change that.

Drafted in 2024, McConkey entered the league with questions about his size and how his skills would translate from Georgia to the NFL. By the end of his rookie season, those questions had been silenced — and replaced with jaw-dropping stats. McConkey finished his first year with 82 receptions, 1,149 receiving yards, seven touchdowns, and a 73.2% catch rate. He also made history in the postseason. Despite the Chargers’ Wild Card loss to Houston, McConkey delivered a record-setting performance with 197 receiving yards, the most ever by a rookie in a playoff game, including an 86-yard touchdown. His immediate chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert has made him Herbert’s go-to target, especially after the team parted ways with Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams took on a reduced role.

With a full offseason and new offensive wrinkles under head coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman, McConkey is expected to have even more opportunities to shine in 2025. Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently named McConkey the Chargers’ “most promising building block,” noting his elite catch rate and inside-outside versatility. Teammates are echoing the hype, too. Safety Derwin James recently said: “He’s going to be a future All-Pro… one of the best receivers in the league for sure.” The Chargers' offense may be built around the run game, but Herbert’s arm and McConkey’s route-running will still be the centerpiece of their explosive plays. Add to that a relatively unproven supporting cast — with rookies like Tre Harris and returning veterans like Mike Williams — and McConkey is the top dog in this wide receiver room.

To become an All-Pro, McConkey will need more than numbers — he’ll need signature moments, national attention, and continued team success. The All-Pro list isn’t about popularity; it’s about dominance and respect from peers and media. If McConkey continues his upward trajectory, stays healthy, and helps lead the Chargers back to the playoffs with another big postseason showing, he could become the player who finally ends the franchise's All-Pro WR drought. After 29 years of waiting, maybe it’s finally time for the Chargers to have another All-Pro wide receiver — and his name might just be Ladd McConkey.