New York Giants coach John Harbaugh believes that Malik Nabers is capable of being the best wide receiver in the league, though the Pro Bowler first must return to the field after a knee injury cut short his 2025 season.
After a Pro Bowl campaign as a rookie, Nabers tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in Week 4 last fall, and he subsequently underwent two knee operations. The Giants hope the 2024 first-round pick (No. 6 overall) will be ready for the 2026 regular season.
“If you get Malik out there, you got, I would say arguably — I know his goal is to be the best in the league,” the first-year Giants head coach said Tuesday. “… And he’s capable of doing it.”
Nabers was limited to 18 receptions for 271 yards and two TDs last season after a stellar debut campaign the previous season: 109 catches, 1,204 receiving yards and seven scores.
As for the wide receivers as a whole, Harbaugh is excited about the group. One of the receiving corps’ key members, Darius Slayton, is expected to be fully healthy for the start of training camp this summer after undergoing sports hernia surgery.
“They’re practicing well, as you see,” Harbaugh said. “All those guys are practicing well. The guys we brought in in free agency. We drafted a really good player (Malachi Fields). We’ll get Darius (Slayton) back, another guy. When you step back and look at it, you got about five guys you feel really good about.”
On the subject of how second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart is progressing, Harbaugh called it a “work in progress all the time,” but he loves the former Ole Miss star’s drive and determination. Dart had an uneven first NFL season, going 4-8 as a starter while compiling 15 touchdowns, five interceptions, a 63.7% completion rate and 2,272 passing yards.
“I think he’s adjusting really well,” Harbaugh said of the team’s 2025 first-round selection (No. 25 overall). “He looks good. I love his competitiveness. He wants to be perfect every play.
“It’s a work in progress all the time. It’s still fairly early. But the clock is ticking. … we started the team meeting off with ‘September’ by Earth, Wind & Fire. September is right around the corner. So that’s what we’re preparing for.”
