Malik Nabers

Giants WR Malik Nabers Stood Out In Spring

July 3rd, 2024 at 7:19pm CST by Ely Allen

Never is a wide receiver drafted in the top-ten without the intention that they will be a crucial part of the offense as a rookie. Three such players emerged in this year’s draft, and LSU-product Malik Nabers will surely be relied upon in New York as a result. While there are several examples of top-drafted receivers not living up to their billing, first impressions seem to indicate that Nabers will not disappoint, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

In the past few years, the Giants have become heavily invested in quarterback Daniel Jones, so much so that the quarterback’s recent extension factored into whether or not franchise back Saquon Barkley would remain in New York; spoiler alert, he did not. The struggle has been that, while investing in Jones, the team has neglected their offensive line and receiving corps.

Attempts have certainly been made to improve both position groups over the last few years, but the level of success has been negligible thus far. The Giants routinely see themselves in the top ten for sacks allowed, and the NFC’s New York squad has not seen a 1,000-yard receiver since Eli Manning was hooking up with Odell Beckham Jr. back in 2018. Since then, Darius Slay ton has been the team’s leading receiver but has failed to eclipse even 800 receiving yards, topping out at 770 last year.

Enter: Malik Nabers. Nabers was drafted No. 6 overall, and the only reason he wasn’t selected any higher was because of the need for quarterbacks at the top of the draft. Many prospect rankings had Nabers as the third-best prospect in the draft, behind only Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. LSU has produced some NFL greats at wide receiver (Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase in recent years, to name a few), yet Nabers holds career records in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003) for the Tigers despite only three years of play.

At just over six-feet tall and just under 200 pounds, Nabers lacks ideal size but was still one of the draft’s most polished wideouts. Spending about half his time on the outside and half in the slot, Nabers can be utilized all over the field. He led college football in catches over 20 yards last year with 34, consistently shows an ability to produce on passes underneath, and claims the jet sweep as his favorite call in the playbook. With elite body control and strong top-end speed, it was hardly a surprise to see Nabers become the top pick of the year for New York.

What is perhaps even less of a surprise is hearing that Nabers has impressed in offseason work so far. With quickness, great hands, and constant playmaking, Nabers caught the attention of many at the team’s minicamp. He’s immediately become a fixture on the first-team offense, playing all over the field like he did in college, and has received rave reviews from his new quarterback.

“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,” Jones told reporters. “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.”

All of this buildup is creating larger-than-life expectations for the rookie who has his fellow LSU-alum Beckham’s legacy to live up to. Beckham delivered on expectations, opening his career with three straight seasons of at least 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. Nabers may not need to reach those types of numbers to avoid the “bust” label, but New York is hoping at least to see him emerge as WR1 in his rookie year.

AFC South Notes: Colts, Nabers, Texans, Jags

May 15th, 2024 at 9:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts‘ wide receiver room includes two starters acquired before Shane Steichen‘s arrival — Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce — and the team made a three-year, $70MM commitment to its No. 1 target in March. Steichen is starting to put his stamp on the WR room, however, with the Colts having drafted Josh Downs in last year’s third round and Adonai Mitchell in this year’s second. As Chris Ballard continues to run Indianapolis’ draft, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes Steichen “strongly advocated” for Mitchell in the second round.

Mitchell is unlikely to stroll into a starting spot early, as Holder adds the Texas product will be expected to begin training camp as the top backup behind Pittman, Pierce and Downs. But the ex-Longhorns standout’s draft slot (No. 52) suggests he will be heard from early in his career. The Colts have seen mixed results from their second-round WRs under Ballard, with Pittman shining and Parris Campbell struggling to stay on the field. Pierce (No. 53 overall in 2022) has eclipsed 500 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. A Georgia transfer, Mitchell blazed to a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Although he only topped 450 receiving yards in one college season (2023, with 845 and 11 touchdowns), plenty will be expected from a Colts team that has struggled with receiver depth for most of Ballard’s GM tenure.

Here is the latest from the AFC South:

Staying on the WR topic, the Titans had a contingency plan in the event one of the teams above them at No. 7 zagged. The Giants were seemingly down to QB or WR at No. 6 throughout the pre-draft process, but a post-draft report suggested they were also eyeing Joe Alt. The Chargers were both connected to Alt and JC Latham at No. 5. In a scenario in which targets Latham and Alt were off the board, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes Malik Nabers would have been the Tennessee pick at 7. A Nabers choice would have left the OL-needy Titans less equipped up front, and Latham filled a bigger need. The team has since signed Tyler Boyd to team with outside targets DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley.
The Colts are changing some of their rookies’ positions ahead of their first NFL offseason programs. Ballard said fifth-round pick Jaylon Carlies will move from safety to linebacker, with the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson indicating fifth-round safety Jaylin Simpson is sliding from safety to cornerback. Simpson has CB experience but moved to safety while at Auburn. Before Day 3 investments, the Colts did not address the cornerback position beyond Kenny Moore‘s re-signing. This leaves some uncertainty here — particularly on the outside.
Third-round Colts draftee Matt Goncalves spent his college career at left and right tackle, but ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes the rookie will be given time at guard this offseason. The Day 2 pick will compete for a backup job as a rookie, per Holder, as it appears Indy is planning to keep its low-cost starters (Bernhard Raimann, Will Fries) in place alongside veterans Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith.
The Texans will make an adjustment at a key front office post. The team did not renew director of pro personnel Ronnie McGill‘s contract, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. McGill followed GM Nick Caserio from New England in 2021; the Texans had promoted him to the director post in 2022. Teams regularly make scouting adjustments post-draft, and a notable Texans hire will be on tap.
A scouting veteran of more than 30 years, Tom McConnaughey is retiring from his Jaguars post. The veteran staffer, who has been with the Jags since 2021, will leave after three years as a national scout with the team, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton tweets. McConnaughey spent 26 years with the Chargers prior to moving to Jacksonville.
In addition to hiring A.J. Highsmith and Keenan Agnew, the Titans are adding Sam Summerville to their scouting staff. Summerville is expected to join the team as a national scout, per Stratton. The Bears recently parted ways with Summerville, a former Fritz Pollard Alliance scout of the year honoree, after 12 years.

Giants Sign First-Round WR Malik Nabers

May 10th, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants were consistently mentioned as a suitor for one of the 2024 draft class’ top quarterbacks. The team made a notable offer for the No. 3 pick (and with it, Drake Maye), but ultimately remained in place at sixth overall. That allowed New York to draft LSU wideout Malik Nabers and add a dynamic option to the team’s passing game in the process.

Nabers has signed his rookie contract, the Giants announced on Friday. Many players on the verge of their first NFL rookie minicamps have done the same recently in preparation for the weekend. This four-year pact will be worth just over $29MM fully guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. Nabers will collect a signing bonus of just over $18MM.

Like all other first-rounders, Nabers’ deal will also include a fifth-year option the team could pick up for the 2028 campaign. If things go according to plan over the next three seasons, that will not be a difficult decision on New York’s part. Nabers enters the league with major expectations after he solidified his status as one of the top three prospects in a loaded receiver class. Ahead of the draft, it was learned some teams had the All-American rated higher than Marvin Harrison Jr.

While the latter did wind up hearing his name called fourth overall, the Giants were among the teams high on Nabers leading up to the draft. He saw his production increase with each passing season at LSU, including a standout junior campaign to close out his college career. Nabers racked up 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns on 89 receptions in 2023, displaying explosiveness both before and after the catch.

Both Harrison and fellow top-10 receiver Rome Odunze are generally seen as more polished players, but Nabers’ size (6-1, 188) and athleticism give him plenty of upside at the NFL level. He will immediately take on a notable role on a Giants team which ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards last season. Quarterback injuries hindered the team’s offense, but with either Daniel Jones or Drew Lock under center New York will aim to be more efficient moving forward.

Nabers will join the likes of Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Wan’Dale Robinson and recent addition Allen Robinson in the Giants’ receiving corps. Much of the team’s ability to rebound from a forgettable 2023 campaign will depend on their progress in the passing game, and Nabers will be a central figure in that regard.

Giants Draft WR Malik Nabers Sixth Overall

April 25th, 2024 at 7:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

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.

Colts Interested In Trading Up For Top WR, TE Brock Bowers?

April 25th, 2024 at 2:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 25: The Colts may try to take a big swing in Round 1, with SI.com’s Albert Breer mentioning Indianapolis will probably attempt to make a move for one of the top three wideouts or Brock Bowers. Sitting at No. 15, the Colts may only need to move up a few spots to secure draft real estate good enough to nab Bowers or Rome Odunze. It will probably take a more substantial trade package for Indy to land Harrison or Malik Nabers.

The Bowers element here is interesting, as the Colts have seven tight ends on their offseason roster. Top option Jelani Woods arrived during Frank Reich‘s tenure, as did Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson. Bowers is viewed as this draft’s top tight end by a wide margin; the Georgia product may not make it out of the top 10, setting a potential target for the Colts if they are serious about moving up.

APRIL 24: Most of the trade-up reporting and speculation related to the upcoming draft has centered on quarterbacks, to no surprise. Teams not in need of a rookie passer could still be active in seeking a move up the board, though, and the Colts could be one of them.

Indianapolis is currently set to select 15th overall, but a trade could be in consideration. The Colts are viewed as being interested in a trade-up aimed at securing a receiver, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Likewise, ESPN’s Matt Miller reports the team has frequently been mentioned as a potential suitor for Texas wideout Xavier Worthy. Miller’s final mock draft sends the speedster to Indianapolis, albeit with no trade being involved. Owner Jim Irsay noted the team’s “great interest” in Marvin Harrison Jr. (via FOX59’s Mike Chappel), but he will no doubt be out of range.

Worthy earned plenty of acclaim by breaking the all-time 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine, showcasing his ability as a vertical threat at the NFL level. The Colts have Michael Pittman Jr. in place for years to come atop the WR depth chart, having worked out a three-year deal this offseason which takes the place of his franchise tag. Worthy is also on the radar of the Dolphins, owners of the No. 21 selection.

Indianapolis will have plenty of non-QB options to consider on Day 1, of course, regardless of if the team moves up or down the board. General manager Chris Ballard spoke about the team’s situation during a pre-draft press conference, during which he noted all options are being considered. All teams provide smokescreens this time of year, but Ballard noted the Colts have a track record of moving both up and down the board.

“History, I just go off history,” Ballard said (via NFL.com). “And you know, the more picks you have, the better chance you have to hit. Now, of course, you’re not going to hit on all of them, but it gives you more of a chance to hit. Look, we’ve moved up, we moved up for Jonathan Taylor. When we see one that’s in striking distance that we think we can go get, we’ll do it. But it’s got to work out. And then you’ve got to have… somebody that wants to make the trade.”

The Colts own seven total picks in the 2024 draft, one in each round. The team will thus have the capital required to move up the board slightly in round one, but the possibility of adding later selections could entice Ballard. This year’s class is known to be deep at the receiver spot, and plenty of notable options will be available on Friday and Saturday. Still, Indianapolis will be a team to watch with respect to wideout interest.

NFC Draft Rumors: Nabers, Giants, Falcons, Bears, Cowboys, Barton, Murphy, Seahawks

April 23rd, 2024 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Giants continue to be tied to a potential trade into the top four for a quarterback, they have the likely option of staying at No. 6 and filling a years-long wide receiver need in their back pocket. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze visited the team in March. Of this trio, Nabers may the likeliest to end up a Giant. They are interested in the LSU speedster, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes, adding many in the league expect this match to come to fruition at No. 6. A wideout in Round 1 would stand to give Daniel Jones new life, whereas his Giants tenure would be on borrowed time if a QB trade-up happens.

The Giants are also high on Harrison, as should be expected, and SI.com’s Albert Breer views 6 as the floor for the two-year Ohio State standout. Breer also offers Odunze as being a cleaner prospect, character-wise, compared to Nabers, who has developed a bit of a reputation as being tougher to coach. Some teams have the Washington prospect higher on their boards. If the Giants stand down at QB, they are virtually guaranteed one of these three WRs. That presents a big opportunity to fortify a position that has not employed an impact player since Odell Beckham Jr.

Here is the latest from the draft scene:

Breer also ties the Falcons to Nabers, noting some teams have this match on their radar. Atlanta, which holds No. 8 overall, has a greater need on defense; the team has been linked to pass rushers throughout the pre-draft process. Nabers would stand to represent value, and the Falcons could plug him in alongside Drake London and Darnell Mooney at receiver. Though, Atlanta having gone TE-WR-RB in the top 10 over the past three years would invite a Matt Millen-era Lions vibe if this happens again. It would be interesting to see if GM Terry Fontenot would truly use a fourth straight top-10 pick on a skill-position player. The Falcons have also been connected to trading down, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
How the Falcons proceed will be of interest to the Bears, who have also been tied to pass-catching aid with their No. 9 choice. Chicago is poised to go either pass catcher or pass rusher at 9, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes, with Breer adding wideout may be the more likely play — if one of the top three remains available. Both Jones and Biggs mock Odunze to Chicago at 9. The Bears hosted the Washington standout on a “30” visit; Keenan Allen‘s contract expires after the 2024 season. Brock Bowers is not expected to make it out of the top 10, and the Bears also hosted the Georgia tight end recently. Holding only four picks, the Bears could also opt to trade down.
The Cowboys are believed to be interested in Duke’s Graham Barton, per Breer, who notes the O-lineman has been the player most closely connected to the team during the pre-draft process. While Barton started the past three seasons at left tackle, he is viewed as a better fit inside in the NFL. The Cowboys hosted Barton, among a number of other O-linemen, on a “30” visit recently. Dallas lost Tyler Biadasz and also must replace Tyron Smith. Tyler Smith‘s success at left tackle and left guard give Dallas options. While the team adding one of this draft’s many tackle prospects would stand to keep Tyler Smith inside, Barton would allow him to move back to LT.
The Seahawks passed on Jalen Carter last year, but they may be readier to pull the trigger on a D-tackle this week. The prospect of Seattle snagging Texas DT Byron Murphy at 16 has come up, with Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline noting the former Big 12 standout — who logged a Hawks “30” visit — also has an outside chance of moving into the top 10. The Falcons, who have been tied to edge rushers, are high on Murphy as well. Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson confirms some interest inside the top 10 indeed exists here. This year’s crop is light on DTs, potentially driving Murphy up the board.

Cardinals Receive Two Trade Offers For No. 4

April 23rd, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals would appear to hold a strong hand entering this draft, sitting at No. 4 and rostering a quarterback they like in Kyler Murray. If this draft begins QB-QB-QB as expected, Arizona could have some good offers in hand from teams eyeing the fourth passer left on the board.

A report Monday indicated the Cardinals have engaged in conversations with three teams, with a fourth on the radar. A day later, offers are believed to have come in. Two offers featuring trade parameters come in for the Cardinals’ No. 4 selection, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Continuing to connect the Cardinals to Ohio State super-prospect Marvin Harrison Jr., Jones notes the team appears comfortable drafting the ex-Buckeyes standout at 4. The team, however, may not view a sizable gap between the values of Harrison and LSU’s Malik Nabers as prospects. Citing the Cardinals’ wide receiver connections and this narrow gap, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport does not anticipate the team trading back too far.

Moving too far down the board would slide Arizona out of the mix for a prime wideout prospect; this could conceivably impact the team’s thinking with regards to potential Vikings or Broncos offers, seeing as those teams hold the Nos. 11 and 12 picks. Conversely, the Cardinals’ interest in this draft’s wideout crop could play into the Giants’ hands. New York sits at No. 6. If the Cardinals trade down two spots with a team interested in drafting a passer at 4, they would still have either Harrison or Nabers available to them at 6.

Both players visited the Cardinals, and reports during the draft run-up have suggested some teams view Nabers — who trailed Harrison on prospect ranking lists for a while — as the better prospect. The two-year Jayden Daniels target clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash time at the LSU pro day. Despite not doing drills at this event or at the Combine, Nabers has done nothing to lower his stock going into the draft. The Cardinals have a glaring hole at wide receiver, though if the Vikings or Broncos come in with a much stronger offer compared to the Giants, that would stand to put Monti Ossenfort to the test.

Last year’s Cardinals decision to slide from No. 3 to No. 12 and then out of No. 33 showed Ossenfort is perfectly fine moving down boards. Of course, Arizona climbed back up to No. 6 (for Paris Johnson) last year. Some teams wonder if the Cardinals could both move outside the top 10 and make a similar move by climbing back up — presumably for a wideout — soon after.

While the Giants have done plenty of homework on this year’s WR class, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson notes that teams view them as squarely in the mix for a quarterback. The buzz as of Tuesday points to both the Giants and Vikings being higher on Drake Maye compared to J.J. McCarthy, though we are in the heat of smokescreen season. If Maye is off the board, would either New York or Minnesota be ready to pull the trigger for the Michigan alum? The Vikings are believed to be comfortable with more QBs compared to other passer-needy teams, so they could still be interested in trading up with the Cardinals.

It will be on Arizona to determine if it is comfortable risking a drop to a draft slot where the risk of losing out on Harrison, Nabers and Rome Odunze is in play. They are not expected to make a trade until going on the clock Thursday night.

Latest On Teams Targeting WRs In First Round

April 20th, 2024 at 4:08pm CST by Ely Allen

We know that the Steelers have been identified as a team that could be likely to trade for a veteran wide receiver this offseason, but what about teams looking for wide receivers in the first round? A lot of focus has been placed on teams looking to draft quarterbacks, per usual, but Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post provided us with the names of a few teams targeting pass-catchers on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. La Canfora identifies the Cardinals, Bears, Colts, Bills, 49ers, and Chiefs as the likely suspects.

Some of these, we’ve heard plenty about already. At No. 4 overall, the Cardinals sit in the line of picks that are all expected to be quarterbacks, according to most mock drafts, meaning they are expected to trade down from the position. Many see them trading back to No. 6, allowing the Giants to select Daniel Jones‘ potential replacement. This would leave them in line to draft the class’s top receiver prospect, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. This could provide Arizona with a new top receiver after the departure of Marquise Brown to Kansas City.

This would require the Chargers to pass on wide receiver, a huge position of need after watching both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams depart this offseason. While it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Los Angeles select Harrison, new general manager Joe Hortiz (from Baltimore) has shown an affinity for Notre Dame prospects like Ronnie Stanley and Kyle Hamilton. Combine that with the addition of new offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and connections to Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt make all the sense in the world. Roman’s run-heavy offensive mentality makes tackle a bigger priority than receiver in the first round.

Wide receiver has been seen as less of a priority for the Bears after they acquired Allen in a trade from the Chargers. Still, drafting a top receiver prospect like LSU’s Malik Nabers or Washington’s Rome Odunze could give projected new quarterback Caleb Williams a strong trio of targets with Allen and D.J. Moore. Chicago could pair the draft’s QB1 with a potential WR1 as ESPN’s Matt Miller tells us that there are some teams in the NFL who see Nabers and Odunze as better prospects than Harrison. The three receivers are closer than people may think on most draft boards and their order of preference could come down to scheme and fit.

In Indianapolis, the Colts would love to bring in a first-round receiver for second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Josh Downs and Alec Pierce were decent options behind Michael Pittman Jr., but having a true weapon across the field could really help both Richardson and Pittman. If Harrison, Nabers, and Odunze find their way off the board by the time the Colts select at No. 15, LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. could fall into their lap, though Odunze could still be available if nobody takes a flyer on him as the best player available regardless of position.

At the back end of the first round, wide receiver has become a big need for the Bills after they watched Gabriel Davis depart in free agency and traded away Stefon Diggs to the Texans. Khalil Shakir now leads the position room, and though the top four receivers aren’t expected to be available by the 28th pick, pairing Shakir with Texas’ Adonai Mitchell, FSU’s Keon Coleman, or Florida’s Ricky Pearsall could be productive.

As for the 49ers and Chiefs in the last two picks of the draft, San Francisco is a bit of surprise inclusion after recently paying Deebo Samuel and still currently denying that Brandon Aiyuk is available via trade. Still, if Aiyuk is potentially on the way out, taking flyer on Mitchell, Coleman, or Pearsall could work out.

As for Kansas City, they’ve tried their fair share of veteran free agent additions for Patrick Mahomes, and will do so again with the addition of Brown this offseason, as well as some draft picks in the second round or later. We’ve seen the Chiefs have success with smaller wide receivers with speed, so bringing in Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, Michigan’s Roman Wilson, or Texas’ Xavier Worthy could make a lot of sense.

Whoever doesn’t hear their name called on the first night of the draft shouldn’t have to wait too long. Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s latest mock draft showed the Panthers selecting McConkey with their first pick of the draft, which will be the first pick of the second round. If McConkey is already off the board, Wilson and Worthy offer similar skill sets.

It’s a deep class for wide receivers this year. Top prospects like Harrison, Nabers, Odunze, and Thomas are considered no-brainers as first-round picks. An early run on those four could see many of the pass-catchers behind them find their way into the first round, as well. Even so, there are nearly 20 wideouts with a projected third-round grade or better. Not only is this a wide receiver class with lots of talent up top, but talent throughout will benefit teams who need receivers but will have to target other positions of need first.

Latest On Cardinals’ Draft Plans

April 20th, 2024 at 9:02am CST by Ben Levine

During last year’s draft, the Cardinals traded out of the No. 3 spot before jumping back up to No. 6. Could they be eyeing similar moves in 2024?

Some people around the NFL believe GM Monti Ossenfort could be considering that route, although one of the trades would be contingent on the other. As ESPN’s Field Yates writes, the Cardinals would “want to ensure” they they’ll be capable of trading up the board before they move on from their fourth-overall selection.

While trading back would seem to be the more significant move, the organization is focused on moving up from their hypothetical pick acquisition. That’s because the team is especially determined to leave the first round with one of the draft’s elite receivers. If the organization trades No. 4 for a pick that takes them out of the top-10, there’s a good chance they miss out on the likes of Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, and Washington’s Rome Odunze.

Of course, the Cardinals could just stay put at No. 4 and have their pick of the draft’s top receiver prospects. We heard earlier this week that Harrison, the consensus top player at his position, was a “wheelhouse pick” for Arizona. Amid an unusually structured pre-draft program, Harrison visited the Cardinals recently. However, if the Cardinals believe there isn’t a significant gap between Harrison and the Nabers/Odunze duo, a series of trades could still land them a WR plus extra assets.

After moving back from No. 3 to No. 12 during last year’s draft, the Cardinals ended up moving back up to No. 6 in order to acquire Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.. The trade machinations ended up netting the Cardinals a future first-round pick, a selection that resulted in the No. 27 pick in this year’s draft.

Colts To Host LSU WR Malik Nabers

April 9th, 2024 at 9:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Malik Nabers continues to be a popular name for receiver-needy teams, and the LSU star is adding another top-30 visit to his agenda. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Nabers is expected to fly to Indy tomorrow to meet with the Colts.

We previously heard that the receiver was set to meet with the Titans, Jets, and Bears, all squads that currently hold top-10 picks. The Colts are sitting with the No. 15 pick, meaning they’ll likely need a trade (and/or some luck) if they want to snag Nabers.

The Colts are hoping to surround second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson with as many weapons as possible. While the team was quick to re-sign top wideout Michael Pittman Jr., the front office has otherwise been quiet when it comes to skill players. At the moment, the team is set to return basically the same WR depth chart next season, a grouping that includes Pittman, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, and D.J. Montgomery.

Nabers would surely provide the Colts with some offensive firepower. The six-foot-one receiver followed up a breakout 2022 campaign with an even better 2023 season. Nabers finished the year with 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning him a unanimous All-American nod.

Thanks to that performance, Nabers is now considered one of the draft’s top receiver prospects. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is widely considered the top player at the position, Wolfe notes that some teams actually have Naber as the top wideout in the class. The LSU product’s first-round draft stock is secure, and it seems like there’s an increasing chance that Nabers lands in the top-10.

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