Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Size:
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 190 lbs
Accomplishments:
Biletnikoff Award finalist (2023) • Freshman All-SEC (2021)
“Malik Nabers has the complete package of explosiveness, acceleration, and strength that allows him to be a great route-runner and physically dominant in run-after-catch situations.”
Strengths:
Great body control/contested-catch
Versatile in alignment/usage
Has big-play ability
Runs precise routes
Physical running after the catch
High-level competitor
Concerns:
Ability to consistently separate on vertical routes
Consistently win press situations
Catch radius
Film Analysis:
Malk Nabers is a receiver who can be versatile in his usage on the field and plays with a high level of physicality and passion for the game. Due to his strong frame and quickness, he has a mixed skill set of releases that he can use to free himself based on the pre-snap look he gets. Once into his route, Nabers has been consistent in showing high-level short-area quickness and great start-stop ability, allowing him to run precise routes and to uncover from defensive backs as both an outside receiver and a slot receiver. In the slot, Nabers shows an in-depth understanding of zone coverage and knows when to throttle down to make himself available for the quarterback.
Nabers thrives in contested-catch situations or 50/50 balls and converts those passes at a high level when he is targeted. He is the type of receiver that when he is covered, the QB should still target him and allow him to make a play on the ball and come down with the reception. This occurs not only on vertical shots where he has to attack the ball at its highest point but also on curls/comebacks where the defensive backs are draped over him.
The most dominant part of Nabers' game appears to be his run-after-catch ability. Nabers is quick and shifty with the ability to make the first defender miss, but he also has a strong lower half which allows him to power through arm tackles and become difficult for defensive backs to tackle one-on-one. This allows Nabers to create explosive plays on his own turning short passes into big gains
Nabers’ question marks as a player are centered around his sustained vertical speed. Nabers showcases quickness, burst, and an explosive element to his game, but there's a question of his ability to consistently separate vertically against some of the more athletic corners.
Overall, Nabers shows to be a physically-dominant receiver that can win in all areas of the field, dominating the short-to-intermediate passing game while also being used to take vertical shots down the field.
Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Florida State (2023), Mississippi State (2023), Alabama (2023), Florida (2023), Alabama (2022), Texas Tech (2022), West Virginia (2022), Oklahoma (2021)
