As Daniel Jones looks to bounce back from an injury in what feels like a make-or-break year, the Giants went and got him a big-time weapon. They selected Malik Nabers with their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the second receiver off the board in a loaded year at the position.
Through the offseason program, the former LSU star impressed – and his new quarterback took notice.
Jones offered high praise for Nabers as mandatory minicamp wrapped up this week. The rookie showcased his making ability, and that adds to the excitement about what he can do working with Jones in Brian Daboll’s offense.
“I think he can be a tremendous weapon for us,” Jones said, via the New York Post’s Steve Serby. “He can do everything, there’s not much he can’t do really from a route-running standpoint.
“He’s dynamic either way the ball in his hands, and strong, fast, explosive, catches the ball well. Yeah, he does a lot well.”
Nabers brings plenty of excitement to New York after a standout career at LSU. He was a Biletnikoff Award finalist last season, losing out to Marvin Harrison Jr. as the nation’s top receiver. As Jayden Daniels’ top target in 2023, Nabers finished with 1,569 receiving yards – the second-most in college football only to Rome Odunze.
Malik Nabers looking to make instant impact with Giants
Now, Nabers is hoping to inject some energy into a Giants offense that lost Saquon Barkley in free agency. New York bolstered the passing game by drafting also adding Isaiah McKenzie, but all eyes are on the rookie.
One of the keys to success for Nabers will be instilling confidence, and Daboll explained that plan earlier in the offseason.
“I’d say the biggest thing is just to try to teach him how we do things,” Daboll said. “Teach him the system to let him feel confident when he goes out there.
“Again, we’ve put in just a few plays, we’ve been going through phase two and [will] probably put in over two-three hundred plays from the start of phase one all the way to phase three. So what you don’t want is you don’t want players — to give them so much where they’re not able to use their full athletic ability.”
Nabers will now look to translate his skillset and production to the NFL, which Daboll believes will happen through an understanding of both New York’s offensive operation and playbook.
“I don’t mind players that are humble, confident, as long as they’re putting in the work to learn and that’s our job, to help them learn and then ultimately their job to go ahead and learn,” Daboll said. “So the faster he can learn it the more he can use his athletic ability to help us.”
