Joel Klatt explains why Malik Nabers is one of the top-ranked pass catchers in 2024 NFL Draft
Joel Klatt named Malik Nabers as the No. 4 pass catcher available in the 2024 NFL Draft. The FOX Sports analyst had nothing but good things to say about the LSU wide receiver.
“Nabers is sensational,” Klatt said. “He’s really explosive down the field, and that’s something that I think is becoming more and more common in college football. It was the short passing game for a long time, but you’re starting to see guys push the ball a little bit and the reason is that these guys on the outside they are big and they’re athletic. Nabers is 6-foot, 200 pounds.
“These guys present issues for defensive backs. Nabers was maybe the most explosive guy in the country. He led the country with 17 catches of over 30 yards, he had nine 100-yard games and he was a big reason why Jayden Daniels had such a productive season and ultimately won the Heisman trophy.”
Nabers is a rare talent. He caught a combined 189 passes over three seasons at LSU, totaling 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 3,003 career receiving yards are the most in LSU history; a prestigious honor for such a storied program.
Nabers produced the bulk of his jaw-dropping numbers this past season when he notched career-bests of 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 TDs. Further, the former four-star prospect boasted 17.6 yards per catch.
Field Yates piles the praise on Malik Nabers
While Nabers opted against participating in the drills at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, scouts have no doubts about his freakish athleticism. Earlier this month, ESPN’s Field Yates praised Nabers’ unique dynamic abilities.
“Malik Nabers is the most explosive player in this entire draft,” Yates said. “He didn’t run, he didn’t even weigh in at the combine. He and his quarterback, Jayden Daniels, opted not to do their height, weight, speed measurements. Sounds like both will, at least that’s the intention, that’s what I was told during the combine, for both to do that at the March 27 Pro Day down there at LSU. But if we’re talking about tape explosiveness, it’s not close.
“He had 27 forced missed tackles last year, did Malik Nabers. So it’s not just the stuff down the field that’s really going to matter at the NFL level, it’s taking a short play and turning it into a 40, 50, 55 yard gain,” Yates said. “I think the gap between he and Marvin Harrison Jr., I really feel strongly about this, is quite narrow. He’s very deserving of a Top 5 pick.”