The New York Giants are seeing excellent early returns on their 2024 rookie draft class through the first two weeks of the season. Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top-10 best-performing rookies in the NFL so far this season and the G-Men had two of their youngsters make the list.
Malik Nabers is living up to the hype
The hype surrounding Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is next level. The Giants’ first-round pick has burst onto the scene this season and quickly emerged as the team’s No. 1 playmaking weapon. Through the first two weeks of the season, Nabers is PFF’s ninth-highest-graded rookie in the NFL, posting a 73.9 overall grade:
“If the first two weeks of the season have taught us anything, it’s that the New York Giants will have to feed their new No. 1 receiver plenty of targets each week,” McGuinness wrote. “His 24 targets over the first two weeks of the season are tied for second in the NFL, and he has averaged 2.51 yards per route run so far.”
Nabers was targeted a staggering 18 times in Week 2, hauling in 10 receptions for 127 yards and the first touchdown of his career. This was a true breakout performance for this year’s sixth-overall draft pick, but it feels like he is only getting started.
Through the first two weeks of the season, Nabers ranks eighth in the NFL with 108 yards after the catch, fourth in the NFL with 193 receiving yards, third in the NFL with 25 targets, second in the NFL with 15 receptions, and first in the NFL with nine first-down receptions. The Giants have a superstar in the making.
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The Giants might have found a gem in CB Dru Phillips
Perhaps equally as impressive as Nabers has been the Giants’ rookie third-round pick, cornerback Dru Phillips. After a solid performance in Week 1 as a rotational player, Phillips stood out again in Week 2 as he played a larger role as the team’s starting nickel cornerback. He is currently PFF’s fifth-highest-graded rookie with a 77.5 overall grade:
“Phillips impressed for the second straight week, this time as a starter,” PFF’s Gordon McGuinness wrote. “Through two weeks, he has earned an 80.0 coverage grade, and while he has given up seven receptions so far this season, they have totaled just 14 yards.”
Phillips has totaled 16 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble through two games. He has stuffed the stat sheet despite playing just 82 defensive snaps this season (65% of the Giants’ total).
The Giants’ secondary is young and inexperienced. However, they are enjoying some standout performances from players like Phillips. So far, he has looked like a mid-round gem that general manager Joe Schoen and his staff uncovered in the draft process. If he keeps this up, Phillips could enter the end-of-season awards conversations.
