If not for the fact that someone updates the New York Giants’ roster, you’d think ESPN forgot Malachi Fields existed.
Maybe they’re becoming the Worldwide Leader in Omission.
Fields may have been a third-round pick, but the rookie receiver should have an early chance to contribute.
Yet, ESPN seemingly appears committed to pretending Fields is still at Notre Dame.
ESPN continues omitting Malachi Fields from its rookie projections
The disrespect began earlier this month, when Field Yates omitted Fields from a story projecting which non-first-round picks would provide the most significant Day 1 contributions.
Yates did include Giants defensive tackle and sixth-round pick Bobby Jamison-Travis.
Fields, though, was nowhere to be seen.
Keep in mind that Yates listed Jamison-Travis before Roy Robertson-Harris’ torn Achilles.
Mike Clay recently continued the confusing analysis, though for reasons you wouldn’t expect.
The issue isn’t that Clay didn’t have Fields finishing among the top five rookies in receiving stats. That in itself is fine.
What was strange, though, is that Fields wasn’t among those who earned a brief mention.
Instead, Clay offhandedly mentioned Cleveland’s Denzel Boston (No. 39) and Miami’s Chris Bell (No. 94) as the only receivers selected outside the first round.
Clay even pointed out that Bell, an All-ACC selection at Louisville, is coming off a torn ACL.
“The outlook for receivers selected from pick No. 20 through the third round is solid but unspectacular,” Clay rationalized.
Let’s at least try to show Malachi Fields some respect
If Clay was going to leave Fields off the list entirely, he could, and should, have mentioned the rookie’s early drop issues.
Instead, Clay opted for a narrative that isn’t even necessarily true.
Of the nine rookies with at least 500 receiving yards last year, five were taken in the second round or later.
Seven rookies accomplished the feat in 2024, and three were selected after pick No. 20.
If you’re getting at least 500 yards from a receiver taken outside the top 20, that’s not exactly something to dismiss.
This isn’t a guarantee that Fields will top 500 yards, let alone come anywhere close to 1,000.
Recent history works in his favor, though, at least from a leaguewide standpoint.
In order to prove Clay wrong, though, Fields better hope the Giants avoid an Odell Beckham Jr. reunion.
The fewer older receivers desperate for catches, the better off Fields will be.
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