There's no doubt the 2024 season has been a miserable one for the New York Giants. Despite snapping their franchise-record 10-game losing streak on Sunday with a convincing win over the Indianapolis Colts, there hasn't been a whole lot to think positive about.
If there is one bright spot during this lost season for New York, it's, of course, the incredible rookie season their first-round pick has strung together, and that is, of course, wide receiver Malik Nabers. After having his best game in the NFL against the Colts, hauling in seven receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns—one of them going for 59 yards—I think it's safe to say that the Giants and Giants fans know they're a quarterback away from seeing a star in the making for their franchise.
After that phenomenal Week 17 showing, the 21-year-old wideout is leading the way among rookies in the NFL in 2024 who are having historic rookie seasons.
NY Giants WR Malik Nabers is leading an impressive 2024 rookie class
For the first time in NFL history, four rookies—Giants WR Malik Nabers, Raiders TE Brock Bowers, Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr., and Chargers WR Ladd McConkey—have all surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 30, 2024
Special draft class. pic.twitter.com/ujyfCiyzD5
With Nabers' electric 171 yards on Sunday, the former LSU Tiger now has 104 receptions for 1,140 yards, which marks the first time a Giants wideout has strung together a 1,000-yard season since Odell Beckham Jr. did in 2018. But what's more incredible about Nabers' amazing rookie season is that he, along with three other rookies in the NFL this season, all have 1,000-yard seasons. That has never happened before in the history of the NFL.
From tight end Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and wide receiver Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers to Nabers, these players have put together rookie seasons for the ages. As for Nabers, he is paving the way for this group of stellar offensive playmakers with the most receptions and receiving yards this season.
Player | Receptions | Receiving yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
Malik Nabers | 104 | 1,140 | 6 |
Brock Bowers | 108 | 1,144 | 4 |
Brian Thomas Jr. | 80 | 1,179 | 10 |
Ladd McConkey | 77 | 1,054 | 7 |
This has been one of the better draft classes we have seen in the NFL in quite some time, especially after all these rookies put together over 1,000-yard seasons. Nabers' rookie season, in particular, cannot be ignored after putting together a season like he did when the Giants' offense and their quarterback play were among the league's worst all year.
Nabers and these breakout rookie stars have very bright futures ahead of them after raising many eyebrows in just one year in the NFL.