Malik Nabers voted among the NFL’s top wide receivers in ESPN poll
Continuing its annual tradition, ESPN recently conducted a poll of more than 70 league executives, coaches, and scouts in order to rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions heading into the 2025 season.
As it states in the introduction, “A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties.”
On Wednesday, ESPN released the results of its poll for the wide receiver position. Despite having just one year of NFL experience under his belt, Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers landed all the way up at No. 7.
“Nabers has the NFL’s full attention,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “Surpassing 100 catches and 1,200 yards as a rookie in one of the league’s worst offenses with four different quarterbacks is rock-climbing-on-stilts difficult. The receptions total is the second most by a rookie in NFL history behind Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (112)…
“Nabers will lead the charge for New York as it transitions at quarterback with Russell Wilson as the bridge and Jaxson Dart as the future.”
The 21-year-old set a new franchise record with his 109 receptions, which resulted in 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Nabers finished with the fifth-most receptions in the league, despite missing two games, while his 80.3 receiving yards per game ranked sixth overall.
“He can go 0 to 60 in three seconds like a Ferrari, but he’s built like a truck,” an NFL personnel evaluator said of Nabers in the ESPN poll. “And he’s not even an elite route runner yet. Just wait until that happens.”
Nabers registered 14 games with five or more catches, another all-time rookie record, while also leading all rookies in yards after contact (256), first downs (55) and missed tackles forced (19), according to Pro Football Focus.
His success led to him being named to the Pro Bowl, in addition to making the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
“Some guys are just different,” an NFC defensive coach told ESPN. “You don’t have to watch him long to know that.”
Here are the top 10 wide receivers in ESPN’s poll:
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets