Oh, how quickly it seems many have forgotten about the New York Giants' Malik Nabers. He was on the fast track to superstardom and entering the conversation of the premier wide receivers after storming the scene as a rookie.
The Nabers slander has gone too far following a sophomore campaign that was derailed by a torn ACL and meniscus suffered in Week 4. It's like his outstanding first season as a pro never happened. Folks are leaving him outside their top-10 position rankings — and even worse, not treating him like the premium asset he truly is.
ESPN's Bill Barnell made a list of players he feels "would land a first-round pick (or more) via trade," with Nabers missing the cut. Health, or lack thereof, appears to be the sole argument, though that's not enough to short-sell the level of talent we're dealing with here.
"The hope will be that Nabers recovers and lives up to the promise we saw before the injury, but it would be tough to justify trading a first-round pick for him before that happens," Barnwell wrote.
Malik Nabers' injury shouldn't plummet his perceived trade value
It really wasn't long ago when Nabers announced himself to the football world, and suddenly his market value is in question? He's a testament to the NFL being a "what have you done for me lately" league.
Yes, availability is the best ability, as the saying goes. Any decision-maker would be silly not to consider Nabers' injury if they're trying to acquire him from the Giants. He's coming off a major knee issue and has had two surgeries since.
However, frankly, to say that Nabers isn't worth a Day 1 selection feels blasphemous. He turns 23 on July 28 and has at least two more years of cost-friendly team control with a club option for 2028. Time is on his side, unlike some of the other high-profile names who were recently moved.
Let's look at some of the guys who fetched first-rounders in blockbuster deals not long ago. The G-Men sent disgruntled stalwart defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the 2026 No. 10 overall pick (offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa). The NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles got a 2028 first-rounder and a 2027 fifth-round choice from the New England Patriots for standout wideout A.J. Brown.
Lawrence and Brown are both entering their age-29 seasons, and they each left their previous squads as distressed assets. There's no shortage of wear and tear on them; the latter reportedly has a degenerative knee condition that the Patriots were aware of.
Barnwell said it himself: front offices have gotten "really aggressive targeting proven pass-rushers and defensive disruptors," yet the same can be said for established receivers. Brown is one of several examples. Nabers, who's much younger, under contract and can win against any coverage, should command a similar haul at the minimum.
New York and Philadelphia negotiated with little to no leverage, and they managed to secure table-setting returns for Lawrence and Brown, respectively.
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