It has been a long time since the New York Giants had a dynamic pass-catching weapon on offense. The last bonafide star they had was wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was traded to the Cleveland Browns during the 2019 NFL offseason.
The 2014 NFL Draft was the last time that the Giants used a first-round pick on a wide receiver. That was until the 2024 NFL Draft. With the No. 6 overall pick, New York selected LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.
Rumors were swirling that the Giants were interested in adding a quarterback in the NFL Draft throughout the pre-draft process. New York no longer seems sold on Daniel Jones as their franchise quarterback, but the value didn’t match up with where they were selecting.
Instead of reaching for J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix, the Giants opted to add the dynamic Nabers to their offense. Wide receiver was a pressing need for the team and the LSU record-setter should step right into the lineup and produce from Day 1.
Who Nabers will be catching passes from is anyone’s guess. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have said that when he is healthy the job will be Jones’s. But, he will face some competition from free agent signing Drew Lock.
Earlier on Friday, Nabers had his first press conference as a member of the Giants. One of the questions he fielded was about Jones, as the LSU star revealed the two have talked and Jones is happy to have Nabers in the fold.
Nabers was one of the high-end wide receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the second pass catcher off the board, following Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Ohio State who was picked No. 4 by the Arizona Cardinals.
A record-setting receiver with the Tigers, Nabers brings game-breaking speed and athleticism to a Giants offense that was lacking big play ability. That should change in 2024, as Nabers’ presence will make life easier for everyone else on the offense.
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