2024 NFL Draft: Malik Nabers Salutes LSU as He Embarks on Journey With NY Giants

From now on, the Empire State will only root for Malik Nabers. The New York Giants have landed LSU wide receiver as their No. 6 overall pick, so it is time for Nabers to acknowledge the ride he had till now. What better way to shout out to his LSU mates than to make it obvious through his style? 

Stepping into the draft with a style that spoke volumes, Nabers wore a jacket adorned with pictures of his LSU teammates. This was more than just a fashion statement; it was a heartfelt tribute to the players and the LSU experience that shaped him, paving his way to the NFL. 

Nabers’ unique gesture of paying tribute to LSU

Taking Nabers out of LSU is easy, but the other way around seems impossible. Even though the wide receiver’s time at college football has ended, he continues to carry forward all the good times he had back at LSU while changing his address to the Graden State. Instead of relying on his words, Nabers chose his actions to do the talking. The LSU loyal wore a jacket on the red carpet at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. 

His jacket was not ordinary. It was a double-breasted suit adorned with pictures that captured the memories he shared with his LSU mates. The suit’s inner lining was a tapestry of his LSU milestones. On stage, after being selected by the Giants, he shared, “Inside my jacket, it represents my journey when I came to LSU. It got all the people who showed tribute to the legacy of me at LSU. I have a lot of memories here. All the memories that are in there are the reason why I’m here today.” 

Giants lay high hopes on Nabers

With the No.6 overall pick, the Giants had a plethora of options, including big names like Michael Penix Jr., McCarthy, and Bo Nix. However, they placed their bets on Nabers, expecting him to open up the offense in a manner reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.’s impact on LSU a decade ago. 

It was one of the many reasons for Brian Daboll to scout through the Cajun country to land Nabers. The other is that the wide receiver enters the program carrying his legacy as a physical receiver, owning elite ball skills and route-running ability. Besides the HC, the Giants’ GM Joe Schoen reigned high confidence about drafting Nabers, “I’m ecstatic about [drafting] Malik. Malik was our guy. He’s a guy we targeted.” Nabers getting drafted was so obvious that the GM texted Daniel Jones that he was coming into the Giants even before it was officially announced. 

With his entry into New York, Malik Nabers succeeded in leaving Rome Odunze from Washington far behind. The 20-year-old refused to let his shoulder injury slow him down last season, instilling hope within Daboll’s squad that he will usher in winds of success into the Big Blue program.