The New York Giants may have Malik Nabers ready to do some damage after his ACL injury last season, but they need a player like Malachi Fields to break out to give Jaxson Dart a well-rounded wide receiver room.
Even though the Giants may have been eyeing Fields as more of a long-term developmental piece with an eye on 2027 and beyond, reports are emerging from the early days of Giants training camp that suggest Fields has been ripping it up and showcasing the full force of his physical talents.
ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler gave Fields some very complimentary reviews in the early stages of the offseason, comparing him to Plaxico Burress due to the two's similarity in their overall style. If he ends up becoming even one-quarter of the player Burress was at his peak, this will be a home-run addition for the Giants.
Jeremy Fowler compares Giants WR Malachi Fields to Plaxico Burress
While Burress is an extreme example as far as comparisons go due to his 6-5, 230-pound frame that would have been equally at home in the NBA, Fields is reportedly showcasing that same level of physicality and verticality that could mold him into a dynamite NFL player.
The only reason Fields was available to the Giants in the third round despite ripping it up at the Senior Bowl was a lack of speed, as he was timed in the 4.6 range in the 40-yard dash. The path to success will come in one of two ways for Fields. He can either get a step quicker or fully lean into his reputation as a bully on the outside.
Fields is currently in line to be the No. 4 wide receiver on the depth chart. Nabers and Darius Slayton are the starters on the outside, while Calvin Austin III is fighting off a swarm of veterans on one-year deals like Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster. However, Slayton is by no means someone who has a starting role locked down for years, and Fields could slowly eat into his snaps.
Even in a year where the Giants are expected to make some noteworthy improvements to their overall win-loss record, this season should have a major focus on developing some of their younger talents. Fields is the type of talent that very rarely makes it to the third round, and training camp could be the perfect time for him to remind everyone of that fact.
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