From Lance Zierlein:

Nabers is the next big thing coming out of LSU’s receiver room, with the pure explosiveness and talent to be mentioned in the same breath as former LSU stars starring in the league today. Despite a lack of polish and precision as a route-runner, Nabers’ gliding movements and speed alterations seem to disguise the top-end speed and separation potential that await opposing coverages. He’s a bouncy leaper with the athletic ability to make the impossible catches possible. He tucks away accurate throws and displays the toughness and play strength to fight for tight-window victories over the middle. Nabers will need to address his tendency to track and play deep throws with finesse, or his early advantages will turn into 50/50 battles. He can play all three receiver spots and has the profile to become a productive, high-volume target over all three levels as a potential WR1.

From Dane Brugler:

A three-year starter at LSU, Nabers was the leading receiver in offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s spread scheme, splitting his snaps 50-50 between outside and the slot. Of all the talented wide receivers that have gone through Baton Rouge, Nabers stands alone in both catches (189) and receiving yards (3,003), and in 2023 he led the FBS in receiving yards per game (120.7). An explosive play creator (led the FBS with 34 catches of 20-plus yards in 2023), Nabers uses his gliding speed to consistently win on slot fades or one-on-one vertical routes. His favorite play in the playbook is the jet sweep (his 7-on-7 highlights from high school are legendary). He also can win underneath as a snatch-and-run target and will continue to ascend as he develops his finishing skills and route discipline. Overall, Nabers has only average size/strength, but he offers dynamic potential, because of his ability to accelerate/decelerate on command and always make himself available with his athletic catch-point skills. He projects as a playmaking receiver in the NFL.

From Mel Kiper Jr.:

I love watching Nabers, whose best trait is his speed. He can take the top off the defense. He was consistent in 2022, showing elite separation skills and the ability to high-point receptions. He also was balanced, catching 35 passes when lined up in the slot and 37 when lined up out wide. That versatility will matter at the next level. He finished with 72 catches for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns. He didn’t work out at the combine, but he ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at his pro day in late March, which would have been a top-five time among receivers in Indianapolis.

Nabers blew away those numbers in 2023, catching 89 passes for 1,569 yards with 14 scores. He has good hands and showed toughness in taking a shot while hauling in a catch over the middle of the field. He tracks the ball exceptionally well. He gets easy separation on cornerbacks. I’ve been impressed with his run-after-the-catch ability. He lit up Mississippi State with 13 catches for 239 yards and two scores early in the season.

From Ian Cummings:

Malik Nabers grades out as a top-10 and blue-chip prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s my WR2 behind Marvin Harrison Jr., and in most other WR classes, the 20-year-old would be a viable WR1 candidate.

More than most of the 2024 NFL Draft’s WR prospects, Nabers effusively fulfills all the requirements of the three-level threat framework at WR: creating before, at, and after the catch. With his athleticism and physicality, he brings shades of Sterling Sharpe, and he has that kind of ultimate potential.

Before the catch is where Nabers has the most room to grow. He’s still learning how to efficiently combat press, and his plant and drive and sinking technique can improve as a route runner, mainly on routes that break back toward the ball.

Nevertheless, Nabers is a dynamic three-level weapon with near-unmatched upside. He has the stem IQ, speed, throttle control, stride freedom, and bend to separate on the vertical and horizontal planes. And at the catch point, he’s a smooth contortionist with body control, patience, and reliable hands.

Nabers’ most exciting moments, however, come as a run-after-catch threat. With his gliding explosiveness, agility and twitch, physicality, vision, and contact balance, he’s a weapon with the ball in his hands who can both create and elongate space, as well as navigate through congestion.

Considering his imperfect profile against the press and as a route runner, Nabers likely translates best as a versatile movement-Z early in his career. But within that role, he can thrash defenses on vertical routes and digs, make clutch catches, and he can also be schemed touches with his high-level RAC ability.

Nabers can be a dynamic offensive weapon on Day 1 of his NFL career, and in time, he has a perennial impact starter upside, with the three-level ability to be a focal point.

From Trevor Sikkema:

Nabers’ movement skills are rare, even at the NFL level. His ability to change direction yet continue to accelerate makes him an open-target specialist in the slot and on the outside. He has the kind of athleticism that demands a defense to know where he is at all times as a future WR1.

From Natalie Miller:

It’s not easy to stand out in a class with this many high level receiving threats but Malik Nabers does just that, and if not for a generational prospect at the top of his positions rank would likely be the number one receiver in his class. Teams are always looking for their own versions of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, and it makes sense for Malik Nabers to potentially have that type of NFL production to match his fellow LSU greats. Expect Nabers to be one of the first receivers off the board.

From Keith Sanchez:

Malk Nabers is a receiver who can be versatile in his usage on the field and plays with a high level of physicality and passion for the game. Due to his strong frame and quickness, he has a mixed skill set of releases that he can use to free himself based on the pre-snap look he gets. Once into his route, Nabers has been consistent in showing high-level short-area quickness and great start-stop ability, allowing him to run precise routes and to uncover from defensive backs as both an outside receiver and a slot receiver. In the slot, Nabers shows an in-depth understanding of zone coverage and knows when to throttle down to make himself available for the quarterback. 

Nabers thrives in contested-catch situations or 50/50 balls and converts those passes at a high level when he is targeted. He is the type of receiver that when he is covered, the QB should still target him and allow him to make a play on the ball and come down with the reception. This occurs not only on vertical shots where he has to attack the ball at its highest point but also on curls/comebacks where the defensive backs are draped over him. 

The most dominant part of Nabers’ game appears to be his run-after-catch ability. Nabers is quick and shifty with the ability to make the first defender miss, but he also has a strong lower half which allows him to power through arm tackles and become difficult for defensive backs to tackle one-on-one. This allows Nabers to create explosive plays on his own turning short passes into big gains

From Greg Cosell:

Nabers is one of the best wide receiver prospects in the 2024 draft class. After evaluating his 2022 and 2023 tape, I would rank him as the second-best prospect behind Marvin Harrison Jr. Nabers has extensive experience playing outside and the slot. His location versatility is a significant plus as you project and transition him to the NFL.

Nabers possesses a complete receiver skill set with high-level physical traits and outstanding competitive toughness. There were times he made me think of Deebo Samuel with his run-after-catch presence, aggressiveness and physicality. He worked all three levels of the defense effectively. He has a subtle and nuanced feel for route running with body leans and feints resulting in needed separation and the short-area burst and acceleration to run by and get on top of corners, especially on slot fades.

He has a second gear on vertical routes to create separation with the ball in the air, and he showed the body control and hands to make tough catches on the sideline and in the middle of the field.