Malik Nabers was born on July 28, 2003 in Youngsville, Louisiana. 

His high school profile as per LSU Sports:

Played first three years of high school football at Comeaux in Lafayette, Louisiana before transferring to Southside High School in Youngsville, Louisiana for senior season … Was unable to play football as a senior due to his transfer waiver being denied … Still managed to record a four-star rating from 247 Sports and Rivals… Rated as the No. 6 prospect in the state of Louisiana and the 18th-best overall wide receiver, according to 247 Sports… 

In 2019, he caught 58 passes for 1,223 yards and 21 touchdowns… Ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and has a 38-inch vertical… A three-sport athlete, who participated in football, basketball, and track and field.

Nabers is only the seventh wideout taken by Big Blue in the first round — and the only the second in the top 10 — of the draft since its inception in 1936. 

The Giants chose Florida’s Ike Hilliard seventh overall in the 1997 draft. 

Other first-round wide receivers taken by the Giants: Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 12, 2014), Kadarius Toney (No. 20, 2021), Thomas Lewis (No. 24, 1994), Mark Ingram, Sr (No. 28, 1987) and Hakeem Nicks (No. 29, 2009). 

Nabers will have some big shoes to fill. He’s not the first Tigers star to be selected by the Giants in the draft. 

Some players of note the Giants have plucked out of Baton Rouge: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 12, 2014), DE Leonard Marshall (No. 37, 1983), CB Corey Webster (No. 43, 2005), S Greg Jackson (No. 78, 1989), WR Rueben Randle (No. 63, 2012), and DB Cor’Dale Flott (No. 81, 2022). 

Nabers did not participate in drills at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine this past winter but he absolutely caught the attention of the gaggle of NFL scouts and executives who attended his pro day in March.

Nabers was measured at 6-foot and 201 pounds and ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash on his first attempt and 4.40 on his second try. He also recorded an impressive 42-inches in the vertical jump. 

His 40 time of 4.35 would have ranked him fourth among receivers at the combine and his vertical would have been tied for third-highest. He had a 10-9 in the broad jump, which would have been good enough for sixth among wide receiver participants competing at the combine. 

Nabers led the SEC with 72 receptions and ranked second with 1,017 receiving yards as a sophomore in 14 games in 2022.

He was named a First-Team Associated Press All-American, a First-Team All-SEC, and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (given to the nation’s top wide receiver) in 2023. He was also named the MVP of the 2023 Citrus Bowl. 

Last season, he ranked second in the FBS with 1,569 receiving yards (17.6 per catch) and was tied for third with 14 receiving touchdowns. Nabers also led the SEC with 89 receptions, starting in all 13 games.

During his tenure at LSU, Nabers set a school record with 189 career receptions and in receiving yards with 3,003.

“Nabers is a dynamic receiver with outstanding competitiveness and production. He explodes off the line in his release, creating immediate separation. He sets up defenders before snapping off his route. He isn’t afraid to work in the middle of the field and has strong hands to finish through contact. After the catch, he explodes through tackles and also has a nasty stiff arm. Overall, Nabers is an electric playmaker who reminds me of DJ Moore with the ball in his hands,” – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com

“The thing I like the most about Malik Nabers is that he’s a unique combination of power and subtle explosiveness in a very unique frame. He plays much bigger because of the fact that he’s really well put together in his lower body and he also has that smooth, subtle flexibility in his upper body that he can use whatever is necessary to beat defensive backs on the line of scrimmage and then down the field,” – Louis Riddick, ESPN

“The most explosive player in the entire draft. LSU wide receiver who had 27 forced missed tackles just a year ago. The way that he changes the dimensions of this offense,” – Field Yates, ESPN

General manager Joe Schoen had this to say recently about adding a top wideout to the team’s already existing group.

“It can really help you out, especially the way we’re constructed now,” Schoen said of adding another top wideout to the mix. “Jalin Hyatt can take the top off, Wan’Dale working in the slot. I think you can really see what he was able to do late in the season when he was finally healthy. Darius Slayton has been uber-consistent during his time. 

“If you add another wide receiver there, whether it’s in the top 10 or later in the draft because of the depth of the class, I do think it gives you options and it’s going to help the offense in general. We have to score more. At the end of the day, we need to score more points. Adding, if it’s a No. 1 receiver, whatever you want to call it, just a better receiving weapon is going to help everybody.”

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