The New York Giants need to continue collecting playmakers, and could have the opportunity to add one of the premier talents in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Depending on whether the Giants add a quarterback such as Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy or North Carolina’s Drake Maye, or add a weapon to Daniel Jones‘ arsenal in one of the top receivers in this year’s class, general manager Joe Schoen has the chance to add a blue-chip talent at No. 6 overall.
Former NFL general manager Rick Spielman suggests the New York Giants should select LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.
“The Giants addressed their offensive line in free agency and, in Rick Spielman’s words, “stole” Brian Burns from the Panthers via trade,” Kyle Stackpole writes, in CBS Sports’ latest NFL Mock Draft projection. “Still, they need playmakers, and Nabers is “the most explosive player with the ball in his hands after the catch (in this class), probably the fastest receiver up in this area, so he’s going to bring an instant impact and big-play ability to the New York Giants offense.”
Malik Nabers NFL Draft Scouting Report
Nabers is squarely in the conversation, alongside Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., as the top wide receiver in this year’s NFL Draft class.
Last season, at 6-feet and 200 pounds, Nabers averaged an electrifying 17.6 yards per reception as a focal point of the Tigers’ offense while catching 89 passes for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus points out that Nabers forced 30 missed tackles during the 2023 season while producing 19 deep catches, second-most in this year’s draft class adding the fourth-most deep yards at 624.
“Despite a lack of polish and precision as a route-runner,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein writes of Nabers. “Nabers’ gliding movements and speed alterations seem to disguise the top-end speed and separation potential that await opposing coverages. He’s a bouncy leaper with the athletic ability to make the impossible catches possible. He tucks away accurate throws and displays the toughness and play strength to fight for tight-window victories over the middle”
Across his three collegiate seasons in Baton Rouge, Nabers pulled down 189 receptions for 3,003 yards with 21 touchdowns.
What Malik Nabers Would Add to New York Giants’ WR Corps
The Giants are hoping that Wan’Dale Robinson continues to ascend and that Jalin Hyatt breaks out in his second NFL season.
However, even with Darius Slayton as a veteran presence in the receiving room, Nabers would immediately arrive in East Rutherford as a top-of-the-depth-chart caliber talent.
As dynamic a playmaker after the catch as he is a target for contested catches deep downfield, Nabers would have the potential to be as much of a game-altering talent for the Giants as Odell Beckham Jr. was during his tenure in the big apple.
“(Ja’Marr) Chase was more of a dude physically,” an AFC Personnel Director told NFL.com “And (Justin) Jefferson was already really skilled when he came out, but you can see some flashes of both of those guys with the way [Nabers] plays.”
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1 Comment
O-line stupid… We’ve not had a functional O-line since the 2016 season. It doesn’t matter who the QB, WR’s, RB’s or TE’s are if our QB is under constant duress; there are no consistent running lanes and plays don’t have time to develop. The game is won and lost on the lines… Doesn’t matter if you’re old school or into the trendy “it’s a passing league” let’s make the NFL into a version of college slopball and heave the ball 30 yards every other play. 🤮 (It’s all about ball control, time of possession, feild position, scoring points consistently and big Defense that not only stymies opposing offenses but also scores on them. That’s all facilitated by the linemen.