Kadarius Tony. Kenny Golladay. Sterling Shepard. Richie James. Isaiah Hawkins.
Sooner or later over the previous few years, the New York Giants have requested these guys to bolster their receiving corps. Giants followers don’t want me to inform them that this crew is difficult to swallow.
Toney was a headache and the worst loss within the first spherical. Golladay’s run with the Lions was short-lived, changing into one in all New York’s greatest free brokers of the last decade. Shepard’s profession with the G-Males began promisingly, however then started an damage journey that brought on him to overlook 34 video games from 2019-22.
By 2022, James and Hawkins had been beginning and working routes for this crew, which made the playoffs regardless of being so ineffective passing the ball. Neither man is presently on an energetic NFL roster.
Placing apart Darius Slayton — a stable possibility who has led the Giants in receptions 4 of the final 5 years and would not deserve the identical derision —this It is the man Daniel Jones retains throwing to.
So whereas the controversy about Jones himself continues, everybody can admit that Malik Nabors is a breath of contemporary air and a celebrity within the making in comparison with his predecessors. Nabors, the sixth general select of LSU, had a heroic final week with eight catches and two touchdowns in New York’s 21-15 win over Cleveland. Victory column.
The Giants have not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr.’s remaining season with the Giants in 2018. We’re greater than 1 / 4 of the best way to this milestone. He’s the primary participant in NFL historical past to have 20 receptions and three landing receptions in his first three profession video games; he ranks fifth within the league in yards (271) and ranks fifth in receptions (23). Second within the league and first in targets (37).
Sure, Jones discovered a receiver he preferred and began throwing passes to him. Reporters started asking if the Giants wanted to unfold the ball higher to cut back unpredictability. However what would you like them to do — carry Hawkins again from the apply squad and begin forcing the go?
“I believe he is assured in his expertise,” coach Brian Daboll stated of Nabors. “I am assured in his expertise. We spent plenty of time with him earlier than the draft and you then actually obtained to know him by way of OTAs, minicamp and coaching camp, and he excelled in these areas. So, I believe we had a fairly large goal on him, however I believe he deserves it.
One thing Giants followers needs to be enthusiastic about, and definitely not a given, is Nabors’ apparent psychological toughness. In Week 2 in opposition to Washington, he threw an important fourth-down go that clinched the game-winner for the Commanders. That did not cease him from bouncing again in opposition to the Browns.
Daboll additionally praised the best way Nabors knocked down an errant go to stop a possible interception within the fourth quarter in opposition to Cleveland.
“That sport stated extra about Malik to me than another issues,” Daboll stated. “Everyone might see the landing, however his unselfish play, his good play, it was a giant play within the sport. Enormous.
Whether or not the Giants ought to preserve Jones at quarterback within the quick or long run is one other query totally. Nevertheless it’s no exaggeration to say that Nabors has the makings of a Justin Jefferson who excels regardless of who throws the ball. Or maybe a extra acceptable title could be one other former LSU star – Beckham.
Simply do not let Jack from State Farm get anyplace close to him. I am uninterested in these commercials, however even I’ve to confess that “like an excellent Nabors, State Farm is there” is correct there for filming.
