Giants draft target Malik Nabers has perfect response to bogus report on his character

NY Giants fans are waiting with baited breath for the 2024 NFL Draft. Will they stand pat at No. 6 overall or possibly trade up for their new franchise quarterback? Trading down could be in the cards if Joe Schoen gets an offer he can't refuse, but wide receiver feels like the most likely pick if they hold their ground.

We'll have to wait and see how the WR pecking order shakes out. The general consensus, though, is that all three of Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze will go in the Top 10.

While Bruce Feldman projected Odunze to the Giants in his latest mock draft for The Athletic, a large contingent of Giants fans want the team to take Nabers. A slew of draft experts view Nabers as a better prospect than Harrison Jr., who's considered a generational talent.

Just as Nabers' stock began to soar, insider Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda dropped a scathing report that questioned Nabers' character. Pauline coined Nabers "a high-maintenance prospect who may struggle in a big city."

Multiple insiders and analysts have blasted Pauline's report, but Nabers went to bat for himself during an Instagram Live stream with former LSU teammate and potential Giants draft target Jayden Daniels.

NY Giants draft target Malik Nabers responds to report that questioned his character

"You know they gotta pick somebody in this draft. I guess they just pick me."

- Malik Nabers

This stuff happens every year during draft season. It's unfounded more often than not and planted by teams seemingly to get a player to drop to them. It's unfair to Nabers, but the former Tiger isn't bothered or dismayed by the report. That's a testament to his character and ability to handle criticism.

Nabers understands the cruelty of the pre-draft process and knows that a rumor questioning his character isn't going to tank his draft stock. He's simply that level of a prospect. A similar smear campaign, for lack of a better term, happened with C.J. Stroud last April.

As a result, Stroud slipped to the No. 2 overall pick, while Bryce Young went No. 1 overall even though Stroud was the superior prospect and checked virtually every box a team could want in a quarterback.

Despite the anonymous source's best efforts, there's nothing to indicate Nabers' stock has dropped (or will drop) before April 27. He's still locked in as a top-three wide receiver prospect and one of the best players in the draft regardless of position.

Should the Giants go receiver in Round 1, Nabers would be a fantastic pick.