2024 NFL Draft: Troy Franklin, Malik Nabers highlight biggest risers

Most football fans know about Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. But guys like Troy Franklin and Malik Nabers are quickly making their case for Day 1 status at the 2024 NFL Draft.
Oregon's Troy Franklin celebrates his second quarter touchdown against Colorado in Eugene Saturday,
Oregon's Troy Franklin celebrates his second quarter touchdown against Colorado in Eugene Saturday, / Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA
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2024 NFL Draft Riser — No. 2: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Let’s continue with another wide receiver. I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed Malik Nabers’ tape over the summer. But the Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze’s of the world garnered most of my attention at the position, which resulted in underrating Nabers in his own right.

The LSU star eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in 2022, but he has taken his play to another stratosphere this season. As the primary target for the Tigers, Nabers is on pace for more than 1,600 yards in 2023. His blend of playmaking after the catch and easy ability to separate makes for an exciting prospect.

He is 6 foot and weighs 200 pounds; anyone with eyes can see that Nabers is built for Sundays. The junior pass catcher earned a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List thanks to otherworldly strength in the weight room and a remarkable burst on the gridiron.

Drops were one of the biggest red flags heading into the year, as Nabers was charged with 10 of them in his first two seasons. In 2023, in 63 targets, the potential first-rounder only has two drops on the stat sheet. Assuming the concentration drops are a thing of the past, Nabers has a direct line to being the second wide receiver taken at the 2024 NFL Draft.