Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, both from LSU, broke out into elite players in the pros. Will the same happen with Malik Nabers, who’s also from LSU? I had only watched a little bit coming into his evaluation and wasn’t expecting what I would go on to see. The hype about him going near the top five didn’t seem warranted, but after watching three 2023 all-22 games, I can say this guy’s the real deal. He happens to get overshadowed in a class with a generational Receiver prospect. Marvin Harrison Jr. is better, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Nabers become on the same tier level as him in the future. In this article, we’ll break down why his potential is so high and answer the question to the title.
Five all-22 games and his highlights were evaluated, and clips from his film are broken down here. All relevant traits were graded based on his film. His scouting report also factored in stats and analytics, such as PFF grades. Use promo code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Please gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.
| Profile |
|---|
| 2nd WR / 1st RD | 6’0 / 200 | JR | LSU |
| Pro Comp |
|---|
| Brandon Aiyuk |
| Scheme |
|---|
| Vertical/ Playmaker/ Slot |
Malik Nabers’ Receiving Stats
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| REC: 86 YDS: 1,545 | TD: 14 YAC: 580 |
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| REC: 72 YDS: 1,017 | TD: 4 YAC: 418 |
Film Analysis
Malik Nabers is against press-man in the clip above and comes down with an excellent contested catch. He beats press coverage by faking to the inside and quickly gaining leverage to the outside. After winning the release, he shows terrific hopps to go up and get it.
Nabers shows off his elite RAC ability in this clip. Working out of the Slot, he runs a hitch and immediately spins out of the tackle after catching it. That is very impressive awareness and he also was tough to bring down.
This route isn’t anything special, but he shows he has the long speed to take the top off the defense. The defense is in cover four, and he’s running a post route. They blow the coverage, and Nabers makes a subtle cut on the post, leaving him wide open. It takes high-end speed to outrun an Alabama DB like that.
He finds a creative way to get open when the play breaks down, and it turns into a scramble drill. Watch how he fakes like he’s going to stop on the route and then takes off running behind the DB. That was intelligent improvisation.
Grades
OVR Grade: 1-100
| Individual trait scale (1-7): |
|---|
| 7 – Rare world-class skill; best in the league and no room for improvement | 6 – Great-elite skill; one of the best at that given trait but still has some room to improve | 5 – Very good; above average and has potential to be elite | 4 – Average; able to suffice but, not ideal long-term | 3 – Below average; able to suffice at college level | 2 – Poor; hinders overall play and is a liability to the team | 1 – Awful; not good enough to play given position at any level above D2 | Note: Consistency plays a large factor. |
| Overall Draft grade scale (1-100, realistically: 57-87): |
|---|
| 86 – Perfect prospect | 82 – Bluechip prospect | 80 – Likely all-pro | 79 – Day one quality starter or superstar potential | 78 – Day one starter w/ all-pro upside | 77 – Day one starter w/ high-end upside | 76 – Day One Starter | 75 – Boom or bust | 74 – Will become quality starter within 2-3 years | 73 – Boom or bust (high risk) | 72 – Will become starter within 2-3 years | 71 – Day-one backup with starter upside |
SPD – Speed
ACC – Acceleration
AGI – Agility
STR – Strength
VER – Vertical (Height/ Jumping)
DRP – Drop (While Open)
CIT – Catch In Traffic
DFC – Difficult Catch (Catch Radius)
REL – Release
SRR – Short Route Running
MRR – Intermediate Route Running
DRR – Deep Route Running
RAC – Run After Catch
IQ – Football IQ
SEC – Ball Security
RBK – Run Blocking
Traits/ Skills
| Traits | Immediate | Potential |
| SPD | 6 | 6 |
| ACC | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| AGI | 6 | 6 |
| STR | 5.4 | 5.6 |
| VER | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| DRP | 5 | 6.5 |
| CIT | 4.9 | 5.9 |
| DFC | 5.1 | 6.2 |
| REL | 4.1 | 6.1 |
| SRR | 4.8 | 6 |
| MRR | 4.6 | 6.1 |
| DRR | 5 | 6.5 |
| RAC | 6 | 6.3 |
| IQ | 4 | 5.7 |
| SEC | 4.3 | 5.5 |
| RBK | 3.8 | 5.5 |
Malik Nabers’ Pros And Cons
- Malik Nabers fits the precise mold of what these Shanahan-style offenses look for in a Receiver. That would be an explosive and physical player who can make plays after the catch.
Pros
- Explodes off the line and quickly gains leverage.
- With elite burst, stellar contact balance, and excellent vision, he’s the ideal RAC threat.
- Exceptional toughness and strength at the catch point.
- Solid height, paired with elite vertical and concentration, allows him to haul in contested catches.
- Already a relatively refined route runner – he has a diverse route tree and pulled off some nice double moves.
- Sudden cuts and the ability to redirect rapidly give him immense potential as a route runner.
- Hands are more reliable than the average prospect – while his drop rate was abysmal his Freshman year, he has had less than a seven percent drop rate the past two years.
- Thrives against man coverage and was often double-teamed in 2023.
- Versatile and well-balanced – he’ll have no true weaknesses if properly developed.
Cons
- Nabers projects as a perimeter player while he lines up in the Slot the majority of his snaps.
- Effort was often lacking in the run game.
- He isn’t the best pure deep threat on day one because he doesn’t have elite speed, nor are his ball skills incredible.
- While he’s flashed elite route running at times, he lacks consistency, but that’s something that can improve.
Combine – TBD
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Pro Day – TBD
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All-22 Exposures
- Alabama, 2022
- Florida, 2022
- Florida, 2023
- Florida State, 2023
- Alabama, 2023
Final Conclusion On Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers is the kind of Receiver to go top five in most drafts, but this is shaping up to be a very top-heavy class. I don’t view him too far behind Ja’Marr Chase, who was an all-time draft crush of mine. Many offenses run a Shanahan-style offense and could use a potential X-Receiver on the perimeter. The way he runs routes and can make plays after the catch reminds me of Brandon Aiyuk, but he may just be a tad more juiced up.
He has elite potential as a route runner and is already an incredible RAC threat. That is someone you bet on in the early first. I’d be willing to bet money he does indeed go on to be the next great LSU Receiver. He’ll just have to go to the right offense. With so many Shanahan-style offenses, this guy will likely succeed. His film was a blast to watch, and he’ll immediately be one of the most fun players in the league.
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