Chargers’ second-day picks

LADD McCONKEY, wide receiver

6 feet, 186 pounds, Georgia, Round 2, Pick 34

Notable: In 2023, McConkey won the Wuerffel Trophy for community service and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is known as “the Academic Heisman.” He also was named to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team for his community service work.

Last season: He appeared in nine games with one start, finishing with 30 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. McConkey sat out the start of the season because of a back injury and also hurt his ankle late in the season.

Why the Chargers drafted him: After trading Keenan Allen and releasing Mike Williams in March because of salary-cap issues, the Chargers had a significant need at wide receiver. Somewhat undersized, McConkey is known for his quickness off the line of scrimmage and open-field speed. He ran a 4.39-second 40 at the combine. His potential was enough that the Chargers traded with New England to move up three spots in the second round to draft him.

JUNIOR COLSON, linebacker

6 feet 2, 238 pounds, Michigan, Round 3, Pick 69

Notable: He spent the first nine years of his life in Haiti and entered an orphanage after his father died. He was adopted in 2012 by the Colson family, which spent time in Haiti to help rebuild after a devastating earthquake in 2010.

Last season: Colson led the national champion Wolverines with 95 tackles as a 15-game starter. He also won the Lott Impact Trophy.

Why the Chargers drafted him: The team allowed both of its starting inside linebackers, Kenneth Murray Jr. and Eric Kendricks, to depart in free agency. The Chargers replaced one by bringing back Denzel Perryman but there’s a need to fill the other spot. Now, with Colson, the Chargers have a linebacker group that includes veterans Nick Niemann and Troy Dye and second-year player Daiyan Henley. Colson is quite familiar to the new Chargers regime headed by Jim Harbaugh.