Malik Nabers Is "Him": The NFL’s Best Wide Receiver Has Arrived

The New York Giants are looking to improve upon a 3-14 record from a season ago and made significant moves this offseason to do so. The organization signed veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston while also trading back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

With competent quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season compared to last year, the Giants’ offense is set to take flight. The young playmakers will benefit most from the new additions, and one player in particular may just put up monster numbers.

With Wilson slated to be the Giants’ Week 1 starting quarterback, there shouldn’t be anyone more excited than Malik Nabers. The 2024 sixth overall pick broke onto the scene and earned Pro Bowl honors during his rookie season, instantly putting himself in the conversation as one of the NFL’s top wide receivers.

Malik Nabers Set To Join Top Wide Receiver Discussions In 2025

Behind improved quarterback play, Malik Nabers is ready to expand off a phenomenal rookie season and elevate into conversations surrounding the best wide receiver in the NFL.

Nabers Will Take Off With Russell Wilson As His Quarterback

Across the league, Nabers had the fifth-most receptions (109), seventh-most receiving yards (1,204), and the second-most targets (170), just five fewer than Cincinnati Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The 21-year-old also caught a team-high seven touchdowns. Even though he missed two games due to a concussion, Nabers was still among the league leaders in most major statistical categories.

Most impressively, Nabers produced at a high level despite poor quarterback play all season. The LSU product recorded three 100-yard games in 2024, including a 171-yard and two-touchdown performance in a Week 17 win against the Indianapolis Colts.

Wilson may be an aging veteran, but he can still produce at a high level. After Justin Fields began the 2024 season as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback, head coach Mike Tomlin decided to move forward with Wilson as the starter in Week 7.

Wilson threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 starts with the Steelers and was named to the 10th Pro Bowl of his 13-year career. The 36-year-old owned a 63.7 completion percentage, 95.6 passer rating, and a 51.3 quarterback rating, significant upgrades from the
Giants’ quarterback play a season ago.

Wilson’s Impressive Track Record With Top-Tier Wide Receiver Talent

Not only did Wilson have success and lead the Steelers to the playoffs, but his top receiver also benefited from the mid-season change at quarterback. George Pickens, now with the Dallas Cowboys, had 363 yards and no touchdowns through six games with Fields as his quarterback. Through eight games with Wilson as the starter, Pickens recorded 537 yards and three touchdowns.

Wilson has played with top-tier wide receivers throughout his career. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett enjoyed tremendous success with Wilson as their quarterback on the Seattle Seahawks, and Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023 with Wilson as the starter.

Nabers’ full potential will shine with an upgrade at quarterback and more consistent play. His physicality and dominance in single coverage make him poised for a successful career in the NFL.

Chase and Justin Jefferson may be the top wide receivers in the league heading into 2025, but Nabers is set to join his LSU predecessors. The Giants likely won’t compete for the NFC East title, but Nabers will be a key piece to digging his team out of the trenches and into playoff contention.