The Giants were long connected to a quarterback pursuit, but the team will instead add at the receiver position. New York has retained the sixth overall pick and used it on LSU receiver Malik Nabers.
With Marvin Harrison Jr. having come off the board at No. 4, Nabers represents the second wideout available. The latter was viewed by some as the top prospect at the position, though, and he will be counted on to operate as New York’s No. 1 right away.
This move came with J.J. McCarthy still on the board, clearing the runway for a sixth season of Daniel Jones as the Giants’ unchallenged starting quarterback. While Giants brass once again backed Jones this offseason, he is coming off an ACL tear and was off to a poor start — albeit behind an injury-ravaged O-line — on his four-year, $160MM contract. The Giants can escape that deal in 2025, but as of now, they would not have a replacement lined up. Instead, they are giving Jones the kind of weapon he has not possessed.
Nabers had an impressive sophomore season two years ago with 1,017 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, but he took the college football world by storm in 2023, leading the country in receiving yards (1,569) while finishing third in the country in receiving touchdowns (14). Stats like these helped his quarterback win the Heisman Trophy and get drafted by the Commanders at No. 2 overall. They also contributed to many believing Nabers was the top receiver prospect in this year’s draft. Instead, he comes off the board as WR2 at No. 6 overall.
New York is looking for its first 1,000-yard receiver since fellow LSU product Odell Beckham Jr. accomplished the feat back in 2018. The Giants have spent plenty of high draft capital on the position in the past few years, drafting Wan’Dale Robinson out of Kentucky in the second round two years ago and Jalin Hyatt out of Tennessee in the third round last year, but they’ll turn to the SEC once more, bringing in Nabers to help complete the offense.
Nabers will join Robinson, Hyatt, Darius Slayton, and tight end Darren Waller as the top receiving options for quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants could’ve gone quarterback and drafted Jones’ potential eventual replacement. Instead, they’ve doubled down on the sixth-year quarterback, who they’ll need to rely heavily on after the departure of Saquon Barkley in free agency.
Although McCarthy loomed as a potential Giants target, and the Michigan product said he spent more time with the NFC East club than any other during the draft run-up. But the past two weeks featured a stream of Giants-Drake Maye ties. With the Patriots not moving off the No. 3 pick, where they took the North Carolina passer, the Giants were faced with a McCarthy-or-WR call. They chose the skill player and will see if Nabers can help elevate Jones to justify the $40MM-per-year payment.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
phew, major sigh of relief here that they didn’t draft a QB too high or trade up.
Bad news for Vikings fans.
Is it now??
Amazing pick
Nabers will be a very unhappy camper playing on a team none of whose QBs can take advantage of his skills.
While I agree mostly. It will be interesting to see how jones plays with a #1 wr
@Stan – You’re exactly right. No more excuses about him not having a weapon like Nabers projects to be. Added to Hyatt, Robinson and Waller (if healthy) that should be plenty for his passing game. Guessing they will take an offensive lineman and RB here in the middle rounds.
I’m not confident but I am at least a bit hopeful. I think DJ is talented enough but he needs a complete offense around him. He will never be a guy who can carry the offense past a glaring hole.
Good player. Good pick.
Problem here is we don’t have a good quarterback and we have a worse line protecting a non good QB. Don’t know how much of an impact a rookie wr can have here. Wouldve liked to have seen an OL here.
Nabers seems to be a good talent capable of being a #1 receiver. Hopefully he is patient because I don’t have a lot of hope for the 2024 season. Still need o-line help, still need at least an above average QB and I don’t think that QB currently has a roster spot.
I’m seeing this as a rebuilding year, shed Jones in the offseason, and move forward from there.