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‘I’m not going to tell them’: Behind-the-scenes footage shows Patriots-Chargers 2024 draft trade
The deal resulted in the Chargers moving up to select wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
Background on a 2024 Patriots-Chargers draft day trade: A year ago, the Patriots made a mid-draft trade with the Chargers that quickly produced some less-than-desirable consequences for New England.
The two teams agreed to swap second-round picks, with the Patriots acquiring a fourth-round pick (while sending a fifth-round pick) in exchange for moving down three spots in the second round.
Los Angeles promptly used the pick to select Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey. The talented McConkey quickly acclimated to the NFL level, catching 82 passes for 1,149 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie (one of the better rookie seasons for a wide receiver in NFL history).
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The Patriots, meanwhile, used the two picks to select wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, neither of whom made a particularly great impression in their first seasons at the professional level.
On Tuesday, the Chargers shared some behind-the-scenes footage of the deal being made as the draft was happening in 2024. It focuses on Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz as he works the trade over the phone.
“They’re calling me,” Hortiz can be heard saying.
“Who?” replied Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh asked in response.
“New England,” Hortiz replied.
The executive can then be heard speaking with a Patriots representative about a prospective trade, asking at one point, “You want to do it or you…?”
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After repsonding “no” to an unheard question, Hortiz ended the call and provided context.
“[The Patriots] wanted to know what side of the ball we’re picking,” Hortiz explained, insinuating that New England initially only wanted to do the trade if the Chargers would reveal if the player the team was planning to take was on offense or defense.
“I’m not going to tell them,” Hortiz added.
The video eventually cuts to another sequence in which the two teams have reconnected and are now preparing to do the trade. It’s unclear how much time passed or what changed in the circumstances, but by that stage the Patriots appear to have dropped the initial demand.
“34 and 137 for 37 and 110,” Hortiz can be heard saying, outlining the trade terms. After briefly conferring with Harbaugh about “going up and getting Ladd,” the coach gave his approval.
“I say we do it,” Harbaugh concluded. The former college coach immediately looked enthused by the idea of adding McConkey, with the rest of the video covering the process of Los Angeles making the pick.
McConkey’s success as a rookie was a conspicuous development for Patriots fans after the trade. The young wideout has already been labeled “the next great Patriots draft fumble.”
ladd was meant to be a bolt pic.twitter.com/qASFaKA4Ig
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 22, 2025
Trivia: The Chargers made exactly one first-round pick between 1994 and 2000. Can you name that player?
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(Answer at the bottom.)
Hint: He became known for being one of the great draft busts in NFL history.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox got an 8-3 win over the Mariners at Fenway Park on Tuesday. The two teams play again this evening at 6:45 p.m.
Tonight, the Celtics face the Magic at TD Garden in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Boston leads the series 1-0.
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On this day: In 2022, Jayson Tatum put together an impressive game, totaling 39 points, five rebounds, six assists, and six steals in a 109-103 Celtics win over the Nets in Game 3 of the first-round series. Boston went on to sweep Brooklyn.
Daily highlight: “Just when you think you’ve seen it all in baseball.”
The captain’s showing off @PhillipsCayden #SCTop10 #D1Top10 pic.twitter.com/m3TiM95NeG
— K-State Baseball (@KStateBSB) April 23, 2025
Trivia answer: Ryan Leaf
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