Giants, Jets reporter explains what separates Malik Nabers from Garrett Wilson

Connor Hughes is an NFL reporter who covers the New York Giants and New York Jets, meaning he's gotten good looks at both Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and Jets wideout Garrett Wilson during their NFL careers. 

For a mailbag published on Thursday, Hughes compared the two New York stars ahead of Nabers' second pro season. 

"The guy is a complete freak," Hughes said about Nabers. "...Nabers is in a class of his own, looping in a rookie Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Garrett Wilson. People often ask me to compare Nabers and Wilson. The best way I can do that is by saying Wilson has a chance to be one of the 10 best in the NFL. Nabers has a chance to be the best. He’s that good."

According to StatMuse, Wilson has recorded the NFL's eighth-most regular-season receptions (279) and the 10th-most regular-season receiving yards (3,249) since the Jets made him the 10th overall pick of the 2022 draft. He accomplished that despite the fact that he rarely, if ever, has enjoyed top-tier quarterback play as an NFL target. Most recently, he reportedly "never saw eye-to-eye" with Aaron Rodgers during the 2024 campaign. 

Like Wilson, Nabers played in an offense that lacked even average quarterback play after the Giants grabbed him with the sixth overall choice in last year's draft. He nevertheless finished the 2024 campaign ranked fifth in the league with 109 receptions and seventh with 1,204 receiving yards. Over 15 games, he notched seven touchdown catches. 

To compare, Wilson recorded 14 receiving scores over his first 51 regular-season contests. 

Nabers was slowed by a lingering toe issue and a back injury this summer. Hughes was asked if he is concerned about the 22-year-old's health heading into the Giants' regular-season opener at the Washington Commanders on Sept. 7.

"Not the foot injury," Hughes responded. "That’s been blown up a bit more than it should. Nabers did that to himself when he mentioned the conversation about surgery. The back one is noteworthy because those tend to linger. Having watched Nabers in practice since he returned, though, he showed absolutely no signs of any physical ailments."

Wilson committed his future to the Jets when he accepted a four-year, $130M extension this offseason. If Hughes' assessment is right, Nabers will eventually blow that deal out of the water whenever he puts pen to paper on his second pro contract.