Malik Nabers scouting reports

[MightyGiants]

NFL.com

2021: Freshman All-SEC Team. Played in 11 games with six starts (28-417-14.9, 4 TDs receiving; 4-23-5.8 rushing).
2022: Led the SEC with 72 receptions, ranked second with 1,017 receiving yards (14.1 per, 3 TDs; 1-5 rushing). Played in all 14 games with 11 starts.
2023: First-team Associated Press All-American. First-team All-SEC. Finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation's top WR). Ranked second in the FBS with 1,569 receiving yards (17.6 per), tied for third with 14 receiving TDs. Led SEC with 89 receptions. Started all 13 games. Set school record with 189 career receptions. Played the first half of the team's ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin to set the school record for career receiving yards (3,003 yards, beating Josh Reed), sat out the second half.

-- by Chad Reuter


Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 1

NFL Comparison
Justin Jefferson

Overview
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.

Strengths
Skills and traits needed to produce effectively on all three levels as a pro.
Glides and burns past defenders deep or pushes them into retreat for easy stop routes.
Changes speeds inside the route to tilt defenders off the break point.
Good hand-fighting and post-up talent to win positioning battles against big corners.
Frames up defender to finish contested catches underneath.
Premium leaper with contortionist's talent for in-air adjustments on jump balls.
Catches off-frame balls with strong, sudden hands.
Has grab-and-go acceleration to catch it short and take it long.

Weaknesses
Runs free into big spaces but needs additional route schooling.
Inconsistent hip sink to snap routes off at crisp angles.
Would benefit from eliminating wasted motion in early phases of the route.
Lackadaisical to capture positioning and stack coverage behind him.

Sources Tell Us

"(Ja'Marr) Chase was more of a dude physically and (Justin) Jefferson was already really skilled when he came out, but you can see some flashes of both of those guys with the way [Nabers] plays." - AFC personnel executive

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/malik-nabers/32004e41-4240-0459-a77d-033b6932cbbb

Brugler

2. MALIK NABERS | LSU 6002 | 199 lbs. | 3JR Youngsville, La. (Southside) 7/28/2003 (age 20.74) #8
BACKGROUND: Malik Nabers, who has five sisters and one brother, was born and raised in Lafayette (an hour drive west of Baton Rouge). He grew up playing outside
with his friends (biking, skateboarding, etc.) and throwing the ball around, but he didn't play organized sports when he was young. When he started playing team
sports in middle school, baseball (centerfield and pitcher) was his initial go-to before he tried basketball and football. Nabers attended Ovey Comeaux High School in
Lafayette and played wide receiver, defensive back and returner on the freshman football team — it was during that time he started to take the sport more seriously
as a possible long-term option. He moved up to varsity as a sophomore and caught 17 passes for 438 yards and four touchdowns. However, his talent started to truly
blossom when he joined the Louisiana Bootleggers 15-and-under 7-on-7 team, coached by Donald Fusilier. That team went undefeated and won the 2019 7 -on-7
National Championship in Atlanta. Nabers followed that up with a sensational junior season at Comeaux, as he led all receivers in the state with 58 receptions for
1,223 yards and 21 touchdowns. After his mother moved to Youngsville prior to Nabers' senior year, he transferred to Southside High School but was ruled ineligible
— his former defensive coordinator at Comeaux was hired by Southside, and there was a rule in place forbidding players from fol lowing a coach to another school.
Nabers was forced to sit out the 2020 season and spent the year practicing on the scout team. Nevertheless, he was named an Under Armour All-American. Nabers
also lettered in basketball and track (sprints and relays), setting a personal best of 23.42 seconds in the 200 meters.
BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS 54
A four-star recruit, Nabers was the No. 39 wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 8 recruit in Louisiana (No. 4 rece iver in the state). After his 7-on-7
performance as a sophomore, his name spread like wildfire in the recruiting world (both as a wide receiver and defensive back). His first scholarship offer was from
nearby Lafayette. He then received his first SEC offer (Tennessee), followed by several national offers, like Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Texas. Nabers
developed a close relationship with several coaches at Mississippi State and wanted to play in former head coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offense. He committed to the
Bulldogs on his 17th birthday (July 2020). On the same day that LSU played Mississippi State during the 2020 season, former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron called
Nabers and offered him a scholarship (Mississippi State won that game). He stayed committed to the Bulldogs but was on the fence about the decision. On signing
day, Nabers flipped to LSU and was the No. 13 recruit in Orgeron's 2021 class (his final class as head coach). Nabers enrolled at age 17, in the summer of 2021.
His uncle (Gabe) was an H-back at Florida State (2016-19), and he played for two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers (2020-21) after going undrafted. Nabers'
cousin (Jordan Allen), who has been like a brother and best friend to Nabers since childhood, is a rising sophomore safety at LSU. Nabers took part in LSU's study
abroad program and spent 10 days in Senegal in May 2023. He elected to skip his senior season and declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD DROP NOTES
2021: (11/6) 28 417 14.9 4 6 Freshman All-SEC; Missed two games (left shoulder); Enrolled in May 2021
2022: (14/11) 72 1,017 14.1 3 4 Led SEC in receptions; Led team in receiving yards; 5-yard passing TD; Bowl game MVP
2023: (13/13) 89 1,569 18.0 14 5 Unanimous All-American; First Team All-SEC; Led SEC in receiving
Total: (38/30) 189 3,003 15.9 21 15
HT WT HAND ARM WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE N/A (invited, but no measurements, skill drills or workout — choice)
PRO DAY 6002 199 9 7/8 31 3/8 76 1/8 4.38 2.54 1.56 42 10'9" - - 15 (no shuttle or 3-cone — choice)
STRENGTHS: Gliding athlete with the acceleration to separate early or late in the route ... reliable downfield target on seams, corners and posts ... skillfully settles his
feet to snap his breaks or draw corners out of phase ... had at least one catch of 20-plus yards in all 12 regular-season games in 2023, and explosive plays are his
weapon of choice (78.7 percentof his catches in 2023 resulted in a first down or touchdown) ... smoothly adjusts and frames the football away from his body ...
attacks the ball when working back to the quarterback ... credits his time as a baseball centerfielder for developing his rangy tracking skills ... average play strength,
but he maintains his focus in traffic ... has wiggle after the catch and consistently fights for extra yards ... experienced rout e runner, both inside and outside ...
functional blocker and has the tools to continue getting better ... took on more of a leadership role in the wide receiver room as a junior ... one of the youngest
players in the draft class (won't turn 21 until his first training camp) ... was a slot receiver when he arrived at LSU and learned how to work outside ... finished his
career as the most prolific wide receiver in LSU history ... led the SEC in catches each of the last two seasons and is only the second player in school history with
multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons (joining Josh Reed).
WEAKNESSES: Average size and lacks ideal bulk (weight fluctuated between 195 and 205 pounds in college) ... play strength is adequate, but he will find a tougher
time outmuscling NFL corners ... relies on his body to finish grabs more than you'd like to see (five drops in 2023) ... minimal special-teams experience (returned two
punts in the 2022 season opener and muffed both) ... arrested on Bourbon Street in New Orleans (February 2023) for illegal carrying of a weapon (misdemeanor
charge was later dropped) ... injured his left shoulder as a freshman and missed two games (September 2021).
SUMMARY: 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.


Greg Cosell

MALIK NABERS' 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200 lbs
40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
10-Yard Split: DNP
Vertical: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
3-Cone: DNP
Shuttle: DNP


STRENGTHS:
Extensive experience playing outside and the slot. Smooth, fluid route runner working out of both alignments.
Short-area quickness and burst to separate at the top of his route stem. Saw that laterally and vertically.
Showed route and separation quickness with a relatively refined and nuanced sense of route running.
He defeated press coverage with a short-area burst and physicality. Aggressive attacking press.
He has the good balance and body control to stop on a dime off his vertical stem and be in a position to make tough catches.
Showed a second gear on vertical routes to create separation from corners. Added burst with the ball in the air.
Aggressive with the ball in his hands. Strong run-after-catch traits with quickness and competitiveness.
2023 – Location versatile within the formation. Has shown he can line up in most wide receiver locations.
Had feel for dipping his shoulder with body lean to gain leverage and clear defensive backs. Did not lose stride.
Effective on slot fades, consistently getting on top of defensive backs. Short-area burst and accelerating speed.
Tape showed more reliance on physicality and toughness at top of route stem rather than lateral quickness.
Outstanding run-after-catch traits with a desirable combination of quickness burst and physical toughness.
WEAKNESSES:
While there were flashes of subtle suddenness, he is not purely explosive. Would not describe him as twitchy.
Inconsistent in his ability to separate and win vs. man coverage. Must improve as he develops.
Had too many drops on routine catches. Didn't sense hands were an issue, but that must be cleaned up.
2023 – Tape showed he relied almost exclusively on his physical ability to defeat press and run routes.
Did not see him show refined and subtle technique to manipulate corners through and at the top of the route stem.


NFL TRANSITION:
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.

One trait that Nabers possesses that is often overlooked is his body control to stop on a dime and present flat and friendly to the quarterback, sending the corner running by him.

Nabers aggressively attacked press coverage, and he defeated it with a desirable combination of short-area quickness, burst and physicality.

Overall, I believe Nabers is a high-level wide receiver prospect who can step in from Day 1 and be a starter and productive contributor, especially with his versatility to line up anywhere in the formation.

https://www.the33rdteam.com/malik-nabers-nfl-draft-2024-combine-results-scouting-report-for-lsu-wr/


Bob McGinn


2. MALIK NABERS, Louisiana State (6-0, 199, 4.44, 1): Third-year junior. "He's that all-around, well-polished, freakishly athletic individual," said one scout. "His traits just jump off the tape at you." His pro day workout included a 42-inch vertical jump and 10-9 broad jump. "I absolutely love watching Malik Nabers," a second scout said. "He's not your typical size for an 'X' but he has the speed, the separation, routes and hands. Where he separates himself is run after catch. That's what makes him such an exciting player. CeeDee Lamb is a little bit bigger; Nabers is more sudden and (has) better top-end speed." A third scout graded him on a par with Justin Jefferson, another LSU product. "He's powerful, he's explosive and he can win at every level of route running, which makes him special as a high-floor player," a fourth scout said. "He can run after the catch. He can run intermediate routes. He can track the deep ball." Started 30 of 38 games. Finished with 189 catches for 3,003 (15.9) and 21 TDs. "He's not Harrison," a fifth scout said. "If you see that just ignore it. He's more of the D.J. Moore kind of player. Thick running back build. He's a good player, a really good player. I don't think he has elite ball skills." From Youngsville, La. "He is what he is right now," said a sixth scout. "He's topped out. Against the Alabama corners his production all came against zone coverage over the middle. When he was manned up he struggled. But he has straight dog in him once he catches the ball."

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/BobbySkinner_/status/1783666447106924912

[MightyGiants]

https://x.com/TalkinGiants/status/1783674619594965048

[MightyGiants]

Matt Waldman was really high on Nabers

He's an excellent route runner and it begins with press coverage. An NFL-caliber primary receiver is the option who will be
matched one-on-one with one of the top corners in football in a must-have game scenario and he wins despite the corner
knowing what's coming before the snap.
The corner may not always press the receiver in that situation, but beating press coverage is a vital requirement for
becoming the No.1 option on an NFL team. Most receiver prospects have a lot to learn about defeating press coverage and
it takes them 2-3 years to become competent, if they ever do.

Most of these prospects have learned release techniques but lack the conceptual artistry to apply them with expertise that
will appropriately beat a pro. Some have developed 1-2 release combinations that will work in the NFL—at least until
cornerbacks catch on that the receiver lacks a strong repertoire.
Far fewer have a wide range of release combinations. Those that do often don't know which ones to use in the appropriate
situation based on the alignment of the defender, the tells the defender gives, the route the receiver intends to run, and the
coverage of nearby defenders supporting the primary defender.
The best have a strong repertoire of techniques, a grasp of the artistry to execute them effectively, and the broader
understanding of football to make the best selection of moves for the given situation. Nabers is one of those select few. He
plays with pacing to set up sudden and violent application of the techniques and select the techniques that will get him
efficiently into his stem or his break.
The same is true of Nabers stems and breaks. He understands that efficiency is paramount for timing routes and he has
learned how to win without wasted motion. While techniques where he can be sharper in specific route scenarios, they're
minor issues that improvable and often isolated to a handful of reps on film versus multiple successful reps elsewhere.
Nabers plays at both a high rate of speed and control. There are NFL veterans with top-shelf athletic ability who never
develop this expertise. There are also pros who execute with speed and efficiency, but lack Nabers' acceleration, movement,
and play-point toughness.
Nabers is a tough, focused, and dynamic player at the catch point at every range of the field. Once he earns the ball, he's a
big-play option after the catch who can make defenders miss and set up blocks.
I had a strong grade for Odell Beckham when he entered the NFL Draft amid a media analyst mindset (that some teams
were also sharing) that Beckham was too short and too light to become a primary option. That mindset is extinct, and
Beckham's accumulation of injuries only reveals moments where we see what he could do in his prime.
Nabers may not be picked first, but he will be picked early. He will also remind fans of Beckham as a route runner as well as
for his intensity in one-on-one scenarios, including as a blocker.