Nabers Listed Among Games' Youngest Stars

The New York Giants didn’t find their franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, opting for receiver Malik Nabers instead of the second tier of passers that were picked soon after.

There’s a real chance that Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and/or J.J. McCarthy turn into franchise quarterbacks. But nobody has any qualms about where the Giants spent their premium draft capital, especially now that young quarterback Jaxson Dart is in the building.

In skipping on a first-round passer (and enduring another disaster of a season), New York added a blue-chip talent to the supporting cast in which Dart will hope to develop.

The Giants receiver showed out as a rookie, and in a different year, he may have taken home the hardware for his efforts. He received ample praise from Pro Football Focus, which listed him among the top 25 young superstars in the NFL.

“Nabers is the closest rookie receiving threat to Brock Bowers coming out of 2024, and depending on which metric you want to favor, there’s a reasonable argument he could be ahead of him on this list,” Jonathon Macri wrote. “In a stacked 2024 rookie wide receiver class, Nabers was the best of the bunch, leading the group in PFF receiving grade (87.1) and targets (165) — both top-10 marks for the position.

“Nabers was also the only rookie wide receiver to crack the top 10 in PFF WAR in 2024, ranking as the Giants’ most valuable player in that regard by a significant margin.”

Despite missing two games due to a concussion, Nabers logged the second-most targets. He generated 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven scores with some of the worst quarterbacking in the sport.

One can quibble with just how high Nabers was ranked. The only receivers placed above him were Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua and Atlanta Falcons first-round receiver Drake London, and he ultimately landed at No. 15.

With Russell Wilson in the building to buy time for Dart, Nabers is set up for short- and long-term success. Given his elite athleticism, quality feel for route running, and ability to impact every level of the field, it won’t be a surprise if Nabers is much higher on that list after his second season.

Nabers Listed Among Games’ Youngest Stars

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