Malik Nabers could give the New York Jets an enticing option with the 10th pick
Malik Nabers is widely considered WR3 in the 2024 draft class. Even so, he is someone that the New York Jets could be looking at with the 10th pick depending on how free agency goes for them.
Nabers measures at six feet and 200 pounds. In 2023, he played in 13 games and posted an impressive stat line of 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nabers was ninth in the FBS in YAC (589) and third in yards per route run (3.64).
Showing the ability to play the X, Z and Slot positions, LSU’s star pass-catcher is able to run every single route possible. Nabers has elite burst and breaks in and out of routes as well as anyone in this class. He also displays great vision on YAC opportunities. Nabers has a rare combination of speed, burst, YAC ability, and QB friendliness to his game that will help him translate smoothly into the NFL.
So, how does it all look on the film?
Clip #1
I’m a big fan of IQ in WRs, especially when you see it displayed at his age with plays like this one.
The initial in-breaking route is played well and covered by the safety. As QB Jayden Daniels breaks the pocket, Nabers does a great job of making himself QB-friendly by not drifting away, but attacking and coming back to the ball for a huge gain on scramble drill-type play.
Clip #2
Again, it may look simple, but running a dig like this helps the QB and the WR. The chemistry is on display, but having the knowledge to not drift on the route and let the safety potentially have a play coming down on the route – and instead coming back to the ball – is a really good sight to see. Along with that, he doesn’t go down on first contact, which you also love to see.
Clip #3
I love the double-hesi release he hits before showing elite burst to the outside. Tempo on routes is an underrated aspect of WRs, and he plays the route with good tempo here and gets a small amount of separation to the sideline.
Unbelievable throw here and unbelievable ball tracking from Nabers and awareness to secure the catch and tap a foot in bounds for the catch.
Clip #4
Damn good catch here from Nabers on a little sail route. He is consistently QB-friendly over all his film. Here he shows really good ball tracking while turning. He again cuts his route off and comes back to the ball, making a sweet diving catch for a 20+ yard gain.
Clip #5
Deep curl here from Nabers. He does a good job beating the press off the line, and he is getting doubled over the top, but does an elite job of fighting back toward the ball. This looks like a clear and-1 to me but nonetheless, it’s an elite job of making a catch through that contact. Hands-catching a wobbly ball that gets tipped at the line, along with getting tackled while the ball is in the air, is really impressive stuff. The play reminds me a lot of something #17 on the Jets would pull off.
Overall, the film on Nabers is awesome. Will that really matter for the Jets? It’s hard to say. When the free agency period opens in early March, they will have decisions to make in terms of how they want to build their WR room. It would be risky if they decide to wait until the draft to make a real splash move, hoping that someone like Nabers is available.
With that being said, rebuilding the WR room is a major priority for the Jets this offseason. Looking into drafting a weapon is something that may become a serious possibility for them come draft time, and Nabers would be an elite option for the New York Jets.
