The New York Giants selected LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft because they knew he had star potential.
Nabers has had a bit of a rough go thus far in his rookie season, missing two weeks with a concussion, dealing with a dreaded case of the drops, and more recently, playing through hip and groin ailments.
His unfiltered comments to the media regarding the manner in which the team was using his talents have also put extra pressure on him.
But here we are, in Week 15 with four games to go and Nabers still has a chance to make his mark in both eat NFL and Giants record books.
Nabers has 80 receptions this season. The Giants’ record for receptions is 107, set by Steve Smith back in 2009. The rookie record is 91 shared by Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) and Saquon Barkley (2018).
Nabers is averaging 7.3 receptions per game, which means he should end the season with 109 receptions, which would be a new franchise record.
One record Nabers will have difficulty breaking, however, is Beckham’s rookie record for receiving yards (1,305) but 1,000 yards is well within his grasp.
On Wednesday, Nabers spoke about 1,000 yards being a badge of honor for a wide receiver.
“Yeah. I mean, as a receiver, that’s your landmark for over a year,” he said. “College, whether it be the league, you want to hit 1,000 yards. So yeah, 1,000 yards is in my head for sure.”
The two missed games are probably going to cost Nabers the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. He is up against several quarterbacks (Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams) but his main competition is Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who has 87 receptions this season.
Still, records and awards aside, Nabers has made the most of the opportunities in front of him. Considering his issues and the Giants’ constantly spinning quarterback wheel, he’s held up well.
Nabers is the only player in NFL history with five or more catches in 10 of his first 11 career games. His 80 receptions are the most by a player in their first 11 games all-time.
The best is yet to come, Giant fans. Hang in there.
