2024 NFL Draft Profile: Wide Receiver Malik Nabers, LSU

Malik Nabers

Position: Wide Receiver

School: LSU

Play Style: Versatile Inside/Outside Wide Receiver

Age: 20

DOB: 7/28/2003

Height: 6'0

Weight: 200 lbs

40-Time: 4.35

FantasySP Position Ranking: 2

Round Projected: Top 10 Overall

NFL Comp: Justin Jefferson

Summary

Naber is often compared to his fellow LSU alum Justin Jefferson because of their similar usage and play style while in college. You can even say Jefferson's success has driven Nabers up draft boards in this year's draft. The heavy slot usage of Jefferson at LSU was a concern for many when he was coming out, but because he was been so excellent in the NFL, it's now something NFL teams are looking for.

In many drafts, Nabers would be the top wideout on the board, however, he should be considered a safe distance behind Marvin Harrison Jr. in this class. He will absolutely be a top-10 pick, and depending on how the quarterbacks fall, could sneak into the top five. While not necessarily the safest pick in the world, his versatility and upside make him a player that will be tough to pass up on for any team. 

Strengths

- Very versatile

- Can line up all over the formation

- Is able to produce on all three levels

- Show plenty of explosiveness and acceleration

- Plays bigger than he is when needed to against bigger corners 

- Is both physical and smooth depending on what's needed 

- Impressive when competing for contested catches

- Jumps out of the building

- Excellent body control

- Strong hands

- Waits until the last second and snatches the ball out of the air

- Runs by defenders with ease

- Keeps defenders backpedaling and makes plays in front of them with sudden cuts

- Makes plays after the catch both with his speed and physicality 

Weaknesses

- Route running could use some refining

- Inefficient early in routes

- Inconsistent effort at times, but improved on that in 2023

- Could expand route tree, especially on the outside

- Is more impressive on short and medium routes than deep routes

Our Take

When you watch Nabers on film, it's hard not to fall in love with him. His play style is fun to watch and he is the next evolution of the elite NFL wide receivers.

With that said, he is still clearly the WR2 in this draft and anyone saying he is ahead of Harrison is getting ahead of themselves. However, there is also a significant gap between him and the rest of the pack behind him. There is no reason that he can't be a superstar on the next level and is more than deserving of what will surely be a very high draft slot.