Malik Nabers and 3 Giants' rising stars who will define the team's future

While the 2024 NFL season hasn’t gone the way the New York Giants have hoped, there’s still some reason for optimism within the organization. General Manager Joe Schoen has had his ups and downs, but this past draft class should give fans a lot to be excited about. If Schoen can build on what appears to be the Giants’ best draft class in years, the team might have a promising core of young talent to build around. Here are four rising stars Giants fans should be thrilled about.

Malik Nabers - Wide Receiver

Malik Nabers has brought excitement and big-time playmaking ability to a wide receiver room that desperately needed it. While he’s had some drops that need to be cleaned up, he’s brought swagger, confidence, and the No. 1 target the Giants have been missing for years.

So far, Nabers has totaled 740 receiving yards on 75 catches, along with three touchdowns. With five games left in the season, he needs just 240 more yards to hit 1,000 for the year. The Giants haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2018, and Nabers has a real shot at breaking that streak. Giants fans can only imagine what he could do next season with consistent quarterback play.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Running Back

The Giants seem to have a knack for finding mid-to-late-round running backs in the draft (see Ahmad Bradshaw). While they lost Saquon Barkley in free agency, late-round rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. looks like he could be one of the steals of this year’s draft. The converted wide receiver stepped into the No. 1 back role after Devin Singletary went down and has looked great in limited opportunities.

After seeing only a handful of carries early in the season, Tracy’s workload has steadily increased. His breakout game came against the Seattle Seahawks, where he racked up 129 yards on 16 carries. He followed that up with a monster performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, rushing for 145 yards on 20 carries. Tracy has totaled 610 rushing yards this season, averaging an impressive 5 yards per carry. If the Giants can improve their offensive line, Tracy could be in for an even bigger year in 2025.

Theo Johnson - Tight End

The Giants were stunned to see Penn State tight end Theo Johnson still available in the fourth round, and they wasted no time scooping him up. Johnson has shown flashes of being a matchup nightmare and a reliable red-zone target while proving to be a more capable blocker than expected. Unfortunately, a foot injury cut his rookie season short, but Giants fans have plenty to be excited about.

Johnson started the year buried on the depth chart behind Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger, often going games without a target. But when he got his chance, Johnson made the most of it. He consistently made plays in the flats and showed an ability to high-point passes up the seam. Despite his limited sample size, he ended the season with 311 receiving yards and one touchdown. With better quarterback play and a clean bill of health, Johnson has Pro Bowl potential.

Dru Phillips - Cornerback

Dru Phillips may not have been a household name on draft day, but his on-field play has quickly put the league on notice. He’s been one of the Giants’ best players—not just on defense, but across the entire roster. Phillips is a sticky, physical corner who plays with attitude, and his rookie campaign has even sparked Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz.

While he’s yet to record an interception, Phillips has been a force on defense. He’s posted 85 tackles (six for loss), two forced fumbles, one sack, and two quarterback hits. His aggressive, physical style has made him the best player in the Giants’ secondary, and it feels like only a matter of time before he starts snagging interceptions. The Giants appear to have found a potential star corner in Phillips, and his ceiling looks incredibly high.

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