After an impressive rookie season in 2024, Malik Nabers is off to a sensational start in his second training camp — and the excitement around him is palpable. The former LSU standout quickly showcased why he was drafted No. 6 overall: he amassed 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in his debut season– at just 21 years old, he was breaking Odell Beckham Jr’s records.
The 22-year-old sat down with Judy Battista on NFL Network’s The Insiders on Tuesday, speaking candidly about the progress he feels going into Year 2. But like a common theme among the league’s rising stars, the star wideout is not yet satisfied with what he’s accomplished– especially in training camp.
“From what it looks like, I think I’ve been pretty dominant,” Nabers admitted. “(There is) still a lot of things to work on, still a lot of things to clean up, but I feel like I’ve been doing great getting back with the team and doing as much as I can to help my team win.”
Malik Nabers talks up the leadership of both Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart
But the most important change Big Blue made this offseason was revamping their quarterback room. It’s out with the old and in with the new in East Rutherford, and nobody should be more excited to have Russell Wilson under center than Nabers.
And Pro Bowl pass-catcher—who has frequently admitted he wants to be an all-time great—has already picked up a thing or two from the 10-time Pro Bowler and likely future Hall of Famer.
“One thing Russell’s always telling me is, ‘you know, we need you to be a more vocal leader’,” Nabers told NFL Network. I think so just following his footsteps a little bit and taking a little bit he thinks I can take from what he does when he leads, when he comes to practice, when he handles practice.
“All the things that get thrown at him and how he handles himself as a professional athlete, I think that’ll help me long-term in being the best teammate, the best athlete, and the best football player if that’s possible for me.”
But while Wilson is the incumbent starter for the Giants in 2025, the team also selected their likely quarterback of the future in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft: former Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart.
Dart has been quick to impress in practice, and his long-term WR1 was quick to hype him up both as a player and a leader.
“I think the college tape speaks for itself,” said the ex-All American. “He’s gonna use his legs He’s gonna use his arm strength. He’s gonna use his arm power. I think he’s just an all-around dog when you watch his tape. Having that other QB in the room is gonna help us for sure.”
It’s been a long time since anyone used “explosive” and “Giants offense” in the same sentence, but that’s exactly what Nabers is aiming for to accomplish in his sophomore season.
“We just hoping to take every day step by step, hoping to be the most explosive offense as we can this year. I’m hoping we turn some heads this year.”