Giants' Malik Nabers has a chance to outshine Odell Beckham Jr. in New York

When the New York Giants couldn’t land a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, they did the next best thing.  They got their current QB Daniel Jones a high-level wide receiver.

In selecting LSU’s Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, the Giants not only got themselves one of the top two receivers in the draft, but they also selected the most talented receiver they have had since Odell Beckham Jr. who they drafted with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

While Beckham Jr. didn’t come out of college as highly touted as Nabers, the two have similarities that will remind Giants fans of OBJ.  Both are similar in size; both are competitive, and both are coming to the Giants from LSU.  The question when it comes to Nabers is will he outshine what OBJ did during his days in New York.  At the very least he has a higher ceiling and has the skillset and mindset to make an impact right away.

Malik Nabers is the Giants most exhilarating receiver since the days of Odell Beckham Jr.

Speaking of ceiling, ESPN analyst and national NFL writer Jeremy Fowler pinpointed Nabers as one of his favorites first round picks because of the potential he brings to Jones and the Giants’ offense.

“Wide receiver Malik Nabers to the New York Giants at No. 6,” Fowler wrote, via ESPN.  “For all the hand-wringing about the Giants' quarterback outlook, the truth is New York quarterbacks haven't had a true top-10 receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. Nabers might have the highest ceiling of any offensive player in the draft. Several teams in the top 15 coveted him. Give quarterback Daniel Jones a chance with a guy of this caliber and see what happens.”

Whether it is OBJ, Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, Nabers enters the NFL as the “the next big thing” coming out of LSU as far as playmakers.  Will the hype be too big?  Will it be too much to handle in the Big Apple for Nabers? 

It doesn’t seem so at all.  Speaking to the media following the draft, Nabers compared himself to Chase, but is taking a little from all the great LSU receivers who came before him as a learning tool to be the best Malik Nabers in the NFL.

“Just watching those guys, how they compete, how they run routes, how they were able to come from LSU and make a name for themselves in the NFL,” Nabers said.  “So just hoping to follow in those guys’ footsteps and make a name for myself.”

Nabers should have no problem making an impact right away.  In giving Daniel Jones a new favorite target, the former LSU star will see the targets and should ease into that WR1 role immediately in a Giants’ offense that was mostly abysmal through the 2023 NFL season.  While Beckham Jr. also came with the hype, Nabers has a bit more on his shoulders as far as potentially carrying an offense. 

Giants head coach Brian Daboll and the coaching staff won’t want to put a rookie in that position, but his explosiveness, game-breaking ability and ceiling is too great not to be excited about and showcase.  If he can make the Giants’ offense exciting again, Nabers has the chance to be the face of Giants football, especially if there are elements of Chase and Jefferson in his game.  In that respect, he would be a greater weapon than OBJ was during his time in New York.