Malik Nabers 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Malik Nabers has been a riser during the 2024 NFL Draft process. Give Garrett credit for seeing that coming a mile away. However, now that we’re here, what does the LSU wide receiver bring to the table? Let’s talk about it in this edition of the 2024 NFL Draft Profile series!
Before we even begin, I encourage you to please stop this ridiculous narrative that Nabers is in the same class as Marvin Harrison Jr. He’s not and if you want to read Harrison’s draft profile, the link is right here. Even if you think they’re close, the fact that Nabers was arrested for a weapons charge should be a pretty good tiebreaker. The charges were eventually dropped but there is still an off-the-field element to at least keep in mind here.
Nabers checks in at 6-foot, 200. Doesn’t quite have the height of a typical number one receiver that lines up as an X. However, he does deserve a lot of credit for his versatility. Nabers has a high snap count linup up on the outside and inside in the slot. He does both very well and can serve as a chess piece for any offense.
If you have been reading my draft notes for a while, you know by now that I use the term “juice” a lot. Nabers is the definition of that. He’s got juice for days. All the explosion stuff, he’s an ace. Guy gets open and creates separation about as good as anyone in the draft class. Was clocked in at a 4.35 at his pro day, which means he’s probably a 4.41 at the Combine. Either way, speed not a question. We know he can run and has great knee bend in terms of shaking defenders to create space.
LSU has put out a lot of great wide receivers. Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are the most notable examples. I wouldn’t compare Nabers to either. Chase was just more physically imposing and Jefferson was just so unique in terms of his height, weight, and speed. Nabers probably best compares as an uber talented little cousin to those guys. Nabers has the route running prowess but can also make plays that are up for grabs. Has made plenty of circus grabs and plays longer than his height. A very good leaper and just feels like he’s gliding out there. Nasty double moves and makes life easier for his quarterback.
Nabers, a four star recruit coming out of the state of Louisiana, checks the production box. Wasn’t quite as dominant as a sophomore only scoring four touchdowns. Even still, led the SEC with 72 receptions in 2022 and was second with 1,017 receiving yards. Took his game to another level in 2023 notching 1,569 receiving yards. That mark ranked second in all of FBS. He is also the school record holder with 189 career receptions and 3,003 receiving yards. Not an easy feat at a school like LSU. Also, was First-team Associated Press All-American and First-team All-SEC.
Very talented player. Really good at stretching the field and using his quickness to win on those comeback routes. Lines up all over the place and you have to account for him. The biggest question is can he win consistently against press as an outside number one receiver. How good is he in that role? Really good at tracking the ball and will be a threat after the catch. Will he get beat up and prevented from being a true number one by bigger corners that possess the same speed as him at the NFL level?
By the way, Jayden Daniels won the Heisman. How much of Nabers’ success was Daniels improvement from the prior year? That part is up for interpretation. It also helps to have Brian Thomas (who was actually faster and bigger) on the opposite side. Personally, I’m on the side of those two guys made Daniels look better than he actually is. However, maybe I’m wrong on that and Nabers was a beneficiary of great quarterback play.
I have Malik Nabers as the WR2 in this draft class but I am very torn. It’s a coin flip for me between Nabers and Rome Odunze. A coin flip I haven’t totally decided on yet. There is a lot to like with Nabers and he should project to be a very good player at the NFL level. I have him pegged to be a notch better than prime Stefon Diggs. I’d prefer to select Nabers somewhere in the 15-30 range but his stock appears to be too high before I would get my hands on him.
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