Malik Nabers Scouting Report  

Malik Nabers or Marvin Harrison Jr.?

That question might have seemed crazy 12 months ago. But Nabers has thrown himself into the mix to be the top WR in the 2024 class after a huge junior campaign.

He's not a complete player just yet. But Nabers is as explosive as any WR to enter the NFL in recent memory.

Let's dive into what makes him such an exciting prospect and just how high his dynasty value could climb with the Giants.

Malik Nabers Draft Profile

Malik Nabers Combine Results

Nabers did not work out at the Combine but wowed at LSU's Pro Day on March 27 with a:

• 4.35-second 40 time
• 42" vertical
• 10'9 broad jump

All three marks would have ranked top six among WRs at the Combine.

Malik Nabers College Stats

Nabers racked up 1,223 yards and 21 TDs as a junior at Comeaux High School in 2019.

He transferred to Southside High School for his senior year but was unable to play after his transfer waiver was denied.

That didn’t stop Nabers from drawing a four-star prospect rating and more than 30 scholarship offers. He ultimately opted to stay in-state and head to LSU.

A Promising Freshman Season

Nabers finished fifth among LSU WRs in snaps and pass routes as a true freshman, behind notables Brian Thomas Jr. and Trey Palmer.

But he ranked fourth in receiving yards and third in TDs. Nabers’ 1.95 yards per route beat all four of the WRs who played more than he did.

He was named to the Freshman All-SEC team.

Sophomore Breakout

Nabers emerged as LSU’s top wideout in 2022, easily leading the team with a:

• 22.4% reception share
• 27.0% receiving-yards share

He played all over the formation, running 60% of his routes from the outside and 40% from the slot. Nabers was slightly better in the slot, averaging 2.64 yards per route vs. a still-strong 2.33 yards per route on the outside.

An Elite Junior Season

Nabers turned in a huge 2023, earning first-team All-SEC and All-America honors.

He ranked 11th in the country in receptions, second in receiving yards, and third in receiving TDs.

Nabers led all 286 qualifying WRs in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and ranked third in yards per route.

Despite sharing the field with fellow first-round WR prospect Brian Thomas Jr., Nabers posted big market shares:

• 31.1% of the team’s receptions
• 35.6% of the receiving yards
• 31.8% of the receiving scores

A Big-Play Machine

Nabers averaged 17.6 yards per catch and led the FBS in plays of 20+ yards (34) and 30+ yards (17).

He was one of 23 WRs in the country to earn a 99.9 PFF grade on targets 20+ yards downfield. His 19 catches, 624 yards, and 9 TDs on those deep balls were all top-3 marks. 

Nabers was also a weapon with the ball in his hands, averaging 6.6 yards after the catch, including 11.4 on screens.

Position Versatile

He again split his time between the slot (54% of routes) and outside (46%). 

Nabers averaged an otherworldly 4.35 yards per route from the inside vs. 2.84 on the outside. That latter mark would have still ranked top-20 in the country.

Malik Nabers Highlights

Games watched: Arkansas, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M

Nabers has rare speed. The type of speed that catches even FBS defenders off guard.

Elite After the Catch

He’s most dangerous with the ball in his hands. Nabers has an unnatural ability to accelerate through cuts. He erases angles with quick acceleration and has uncatchable long speed.

This TD is negated by a block-in-the-back penalty, but Nabers beats the angles of two different defenders and is still running away from guys even as he slows up after seeing the flag.

Nabers is at full speed within a few steps of catching this ball, blowing by a couple of defenders on his way to the end zone.

Nabers also possesses strong contact balance and more power than you’d expect from a 200-pounder. He eludes two tackles and bursts upfield for this first down.

Nabers jukes a defender here and then pulls away from another (despite stumbling!).

Dominant Going Deep

You won’t be surprised to hear that Nabers is also a weapon on deep balls. He chews up cushions and easily glides by defenders to create big separation downfield

Nabers hits the fast-forward button to easily blow by a defensive back for this long TD.

Ball Skills Less Impressive

Nabers’ raw athleticism leads to impressive contested catches on occasion. This is an impressive display of ball tracking, body control, and hands.

But I was generally underwhelmed by his ball skills.

Nabers has a tendency to let defenders into his frame on deep balls, rather than stacking them and attacking the ball at its highest point.

And, while he has reliable hands on accurate throws, he shouldn’t be counted on to secure passes outside of his frame. Nabers also often struggles making catches in traffic.

He converted only 10 of 22 (46%) contested-catch chances last year, according to PFF.

Route-Running Potential

Nabers isn’t a finished product as a route-runner. He’s still learning how to fend off press coverage and isn’t as precise as he needs to be in terms of route timing and execution.

But Nabers’ combination of speed, acceleration, and agility gives him the upside to develop into an elite separator at all levels of the field.

Malik Nabers Team Fit: New York Giants

The 2023 Giants WRs combined for the:

• 11th fewest receptions
• 5th fewest receiving yards
• 4th fewest receiving TDs
• 5th fewest PPR points

That's both good and bad news for Nabers' redraft and dynasty outlooks.

The Bad News

QB play is a concern. Daniel Jones has yet to reach 7.0 yards per pass attempt across five NFL seasons and averaged a career-worst 5.7 last year. Now he's working back from a torn ACL.

There's no guaranteed money in Jones' contract beyond 2024, so it's possible (likely?) that Nabers is working with a new QB in 2025.

The Good News

There's tons of target opportunity for Nabers right away. The rest of the Giants' WR corps is comprised of Wan'Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Isaiah McKenzie, and a bunch of other guys who won't matter.

There's nothing close to an alpha in that group. It'll be a major disappointment if Nabers isn't the Giants' clear target leader by the end of September. His combination of volume + talent should lead to plenty of fantasy points this season -- even if the QB play is subpar.

HC Brian Daboll is also a positive for Nabers' dynasty value. He helped the Bills to top-5 finishes in both total yards and points in 2020 and 2021. Those seasons found WR Stefon Diggs finishing third and eighth among WRs in PPR points.

And remember that, prior to an ugly 2023 season, Daboll's 2022 Giants ranked a solid 15th in points and 18th in total yards.