The Giants were long connected to a quarterback pursuit, but the team will instead add at the receiver position. New York has retained the No. 6 pick and used it on LSU receiver Malik Nabers.
With Marvin Harrison Jr. having come off the board at No. 4, Nabers represents the second wideout taken. The latter was viewed by some as the top prospect at the position, though, and he will be counted on to operate as New York’s No. 1 right away.
Nabers had an impressive sophomore season two years ago with 1,017 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, but he took the college football world by storm in 2023, leading the country in receiving yards (1,569) while finishing third in the country in receiving touchdowns (14). Stats like these helped his quarterback win the Heisman Trophy and get drafted by the Commanders at No. 2 overall. They also contributed to many believing Nabers was the top receiver prospect in this year’s draft. Instead, he comes off the board as WR2 at No. 6 overall.
New York is looking for their first 1,000-yard receiver since fellow LSU product Odell Beckham Jr. accomplished the feat back in 2018. The Giants have spent plenty of high draft capital on the position in the past few years, drafting Wan’Dale Robinson out of Kentucky in the second round two years ago and Jalin Hyatt out of Tennessee in the third round last year, but they’ll turn to the SEC once more, bringing in Nabers to help complete the offense.
Nabers will join Robinson, Hyatt, Darius Slayton, and tight end Darren Waller as the top receiving options for quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants could’ve gone quarterback and drafted Jones’ potential eventual replacement. Instead, they’ve doubled down on the sixth-year quarterback, who they’ll need to rely heavily on after the departure of Saquon Barkley in free agency.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
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