At times, it felt like Malik Nabers was merely the consolation prize for the New York Giants in the 2024 NFL Draft, especially since they aimed to select a quarterback and even attempted to trade up with the New England Patriots for one.
Nevertheless, Nabers' rookie season proved the Giants made the right choice when they were on the clock with the sixth overall pick.
Nabers was the first Giants receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. (2018) to have a 1,000-plus receiving yards season—he racked up 1,204 yards in 15 games. The 1,204 yards was the second-best mark amongst rookie receivers—only Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas had more (1,282), but he played in 17 games.
Despite a rookie wide receiver class that featured Thomas, Marvin a Harrison Jr., Ladd McConkey, and Rome Odunze, Thomas Valentine from Pro Football Focus listed Nabers as the highest-graded wide receiver of the 2024 Draft with an 86.7 grade. Valentine wrote about what separates Nabers from the pack:
“Unlike at the running back position, the 2024 wide receiver class was full of hype. Malik Nabers was the second receiver off the board and the No. 6 pick in the draft, and his 86.7 PFF overall grade was the best among wide receivers in the class. Nabers caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season, setting the record for the most catches by a rookie wide receiver in NFL history. He was electric with the ball in his hands, too: His 19 missed tackles forced were the most in the class and tied for the fifth most among all receivers. At just 21 years old, Nabers is becoming one of the best receivers in the league. And the sky looks to be the limit.”
Not only was Nabers the highest-graded receiver from the 2024 NFL Draft, but he was also the third-highest-graded rookie from the entire class. The two players graded higher than Nabers were Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (90.6), and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (89.6).
What made Nabers' season that more special was how well he played despite the lack of consistent quarterback play. Nabers played with four different quarterbacks and three different starters—Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle, who all combined to throw for 15 touchdown passes.
That severe lack of production is why Big Blue made finding a quarterback their top off-season priority. The team's QB play should improve with the additions of Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart. This means Nabers could be in line for an even bigger season in 2025.
Despite finishing fifth in the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, Nabers’ rookie season demonstrated that he was the right pick at the right time for them. His continued progress, along with improved quarterback play moving forward, should elevate him to the next level of superstardom.