Patriots Dodge Bullet By Passing on Injury-Prone Wide Receiver

The New England Patriots are continuing to be active in the 2024 NFL Draft. As many expected, they targeted a pass-catcher with their second pick in the draft to pair with Drake Maye. Not only did the Patriots select who they wanted in Ja'Lynn Polk, but they also added a fourth-rounder in the trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Moreover, it seems like they dodged a bullet.

The Chargers used the pick they acquired from New England to select Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey. The Patriots were long linked to the talented wideout leading up to the draft, but they seemingly passed on him, along with several other teams, due to medical concerns.

Patriots Pass on WR Ladd McConkey Due To Medical Concerns

According to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, teams who were looking for a wide receiver flagged him because of his back injury.

This reporting makes some sense since McConkey was widely expected to be a late first-round pick. On most big boards, he was higher than 34th, and he was mocked to the Chiefs, Bills, or the 49ers in the first round. Once these teams passed, there was speculation that he could be headed to the Patriots in the second round.

Fortunately for Patriots fans, Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo didn't ignore the injury intel. McConkey, who missed significant time in his senior season at Georgia due to his back injury, was likely too risky of a choice for the Patriots there. Fans must be thrilled to avoid that high-risk, high-reward type of proposition with McConkey.

More Patriots news and rumors: