The New York Giants bet big when they opted for WR Malik Nabers in the first round, how’s it shaping up?
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ– The last time the New York Giants had a first-round wide receiver from LSU, he ended up making one of the most memorable catches in 2014 against the Cowboys. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is being compared to the best of them– namely drawing parallels to Odell Beckham Jr.
The Giants doubled down on keeping Daniel Jones as the franchise quarterback this offseason, opting to spend their ninth-overall selection on talent for Jones instead. The Giants desperately needed help, especially at the wide receiver position. For a multitude of years, the team lacked a true WR1, relying on the efforts of Darius Slayton and the futile talents of Kenny Golladay instead. Now, with a true lead pass-catcher, is the New York offense looking any better?
Since his entrance into the league– a short span of around two months, Malik Nabers has quickly inserted himself into the starting offense, becoming a team sensation. From leaping grabs to playing nearly every skill position on offense, Nabers has stapled himself as a quasi-WR1 for the Giants.
“He’s quick. He’s definitely quick. And a lot of DBs will have to deal with it,” said Giants’ DB Cor’Dale Flott.
“I’ll just say how explosive he is at his weight, the way he catches the ball, what he does after the catch, the run after catch, all of that is elite,” wide reciever Jalin Hyatt said of what he has noticed immediately.
Jones could use a fast target, Nabers, paired with Hyatt could be the difference between another 6-11 season or something a bit more respectable. The Giants’ receiving core ranked dead-last in the NFL last season, with PFF rating the team a 62.3– abysmal for a team that has consistently chosen to invest in their quarterback with big paydays.
“I think he can be a tremendous weapon for us. He’s had a good spring. He’s looked good and made a lot of plays. You know, it takes time and work, and we’ll put that in,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “I mean, he can do everything. There is not much that he can’t do, really, from a route-running standpoint. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands and strong, fast, explosive, catches the ball well.”
The team has been laden with receiver woes over the years. In 2021, the team signed free-agent Kenny Golladay to a massive four-year, $72 million contract. Since then, the wide receiver room has been everything but downhill. A lack of production, missing cohesion, and receivers failing to eclipse 800 receiving yards have strangled the Giants’ offense. The only semblance of movement on the field fell to the rushing game led by Saquon Barkley who left the Giants for Philadelphia earlier this offseason.
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Jones himself must also keep up, as he tries to relinquish the production he had in 2022. That year he set career highs in completion percentage, 66.7 %, passing yards, 3,642, and adjusted completion percentage, 80.1 percent. His 17 touchdowns were just short of his career-high 24 set in his rookie campaign, while his six interceptions set a new career low.
The five-year veteran is coming off a 2023 where he himself didn’t live up to his four-year, $160 million contact due to a ACL injury.
Either way, the Giants offense and Nabers must have a seamless transition if they want any shot of competing in the NFC East, which has grown increasingly competitive over the past couple of years. The teams at the top continue to get better while the Giants have remained stagnant.
