Georgia's Ladd McConkey is a Los Angeles Charger.
The Chargers traded up to McConkey at No. 34.
Justin Herbert will count on him to fill the void left by Keenan Allen's and Mike Williams' departures.
"Just watching his game, it comes easy to him," McConkey said of Herbert. "He can make any and every throw. Excited to get out there, get in rhythm with him, show him what I can do and gain his trust."
Seven wide receivers went Thursday night, tying a record for most in the first round. Four more went in the second.
After Atlanta moved up to take Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro and Washington took Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, New England chose Washington's Ja'Lynn Polk to make it 10 wide receivers in the top 37.
The Bills raised plenty of eyebrows in trading the 28th pick to AFC rival Kansas City, which took wideout Xavier Worthy. Buffalo then dealt the 32nd pick to Carolina and watched the Panthers take wideout Xavier Legette.
But the Bills added a third-rounder and more draft capital and still ended up with a receiver in Coleman, who had 50 receptions, 658 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns last season. Coleman, however, ran a disappointing 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
"I don't think I've ever been caught from behind," Coleman said. "I don't think I've ever had the chance to not be able to run by somebody. More so than that, I don't think there was ever just one DB that just sat when I was running at them. So that pretty much tells you all you need to know. Guys that are saying that about the speed aren't the guys that are on the field. Your opinions, they're opinions for a reason. It is what it is."
The Chargers swapped picks with the Patriots to get McConkey, who is a polished receiver with deceptive speed.
"That is just a little bit extra motivation," McConkey said of Los Angeles trading up to get him. "They want me; they came up and got me, so I'm going to give everything that I have to them and make sure that it is worth it."
Adonai Mitchell from Texas became the 11th wide receiver taken when the Colts selected him at No. 52. The most receivers drafted in the first two rounds is 13 in 2020.
The Titans took a chance on Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat with the 38th pick after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Sweat visited Tennessee after the incident, and new coach Brian Callahan said the team would do its homework on players with character concerns.
"There's a ton of time invested into making sure that we get whatever those issues might be, ironed out and whether they're real issues that have to be dealt with or they're things that maybe aren't as detrimental as the perception might be," Callahan said.
After Florida State defensive tackle Braden Fiske went to the Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles moved up to grab Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean at No. 40. The Eagles made Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell the first cornerback taken at No. 22. and the addition of DeJean fortifies a now-crowded secondary that includes Darius Slay and James Bradberry.
DeJean started a run on cornerbacks with three more going in a row. Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry went to New Orleans, Georgia's Kamari Lassiter was selected by Houston, and Arizona chose Max Melton from Rutgers.
The Raiders got a first-round talent at No. 44, selecting Oregon interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper went to Green Bay before Jonathon Brooks became the first running back selected at No. 46 by Carolina.
The Giants got Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, the Jaguars took LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith, and the Bengals chose Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins.
The Commanders, who got picks Nos. 50 and 53 from the Eagles in the deal for No. 40, chose Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil with the first of the two selections. They went with Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott at No. 53.
West Virginia center Zach Frazier went to Pittsburgh with the 51st pick, giving Russell Wilson more protection. They took interior lineman Troy Fautanu at No. 20 on Thursday.
The Browns made their first pick of the draft at No. 54, going with Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. The Dolphins took Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul and the Cowboys selected Western Michigan edge Marshawn Kneeland.
Alabama edge Chris Braswell went to Tampa Bay. The Packers got Georgia safety Javon Bullard. Houston added Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher.
Utah safety Cole Bishop was Buffalo's pick at No. 60. The Lions chose Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.. Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten was selected by the Ravens.
The second round concluded with the Chiefs taking BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia and the 49ers choosing Florida State cornerback Renardo Green.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
