With every week that passes during the 2024 season, the Chargers front office receives more and more proof that they nailed the first two picks of their first NFL draft class.

Fans will always wonder what could have been with Malik Nabers, but Joe Alt has been phenomenal for Justin Herbert’s health. The team’s second-round pick, wideout Ladd McConkey, had been a steady presence despite the slow start to the passing attack, but this past Sunday solidified just how good he can be when given a healthy target share.

But don’t just take my word for it. Plenty of analysts in the media see how good the Chargers rookie pair have been through the first eight weeks of the season. In fact, both Alt and McConkey were just named to CBS Sports’ Midseason All-Rookie Team, alongside many other elite first-year players who have taken the NFL by storm.

First up, McConkey was named to the list alongside the aforementioned Nabers and his former LSU teammate, Brian Thomas.

“McConkey has seamlessly transitioned to the NFL from a spectacular yet seemingly underrated career at Georgia,” says author Chris Trapasso. “He’s been a gifted route salesman from the Week 1, and has slowly but surely reminded everyone he ran sub 4.40 at the combine. McConkey hasn’t pieced together monster efforts — outside of his first 100-yard performance in Week 8 — but the steadiness from McConkey through the first half of his rookie season feels very familiar to his efforts on Saturdays in the past.”

As for Alt, he was joined on the offensive line by JC Latham, Jordan Morgan, Dominick Puni, and Tanor Bortolini. Here’s what Trapasso had to say about the Bolts’ monolithic right tackle:

Alt was the first offensive lineman selected in April, and he’s played like someone deserving of that distinction in the first half of his rookie season. Dominant? Not necessarily, but the former Notre Dame blocker with immense height and athleticism has surrendered a mere six pressures on 208 pass-blocking snaps and mostly done well paving lanes for the Chargers ground game.

Alt and Slater are coming off a Saint game where they combined to allow zero sacks on the day facing off against an athletic group that features Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, and Willlie Gay. The run game once again did not open up, but the passing attack was still good for another near-300 yards and two scores.

The Chargers are still finding an offensive recipe that works week-in and week-out, but maybe that’s okay if they’re able to pivot when one specific part of the unit is not working. The Chiefs are a prime example of a team that will find a way when nothing seems to be clicking. If the passing attack is stopped, they’ll run it with their backs. If the backs can’t run it, Mahomes always finds a way to extend drives while simultaneously crushing the hopes of their opponent in the process.

If Alt and McConkey can continue being key cogs in the current and future success of the Chargers, they’ll be wearing powder blue for a very long time.