Insider expands on how Giants grew comfortable with Malik Nabers
Shortly after the New York Giants made Malik Nabers the sixth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, general manager Joe Schoen explained why Nabers being involved in a gun-carrying arrest in February 2023 didn’t prevent the club from choosing the LSU Tigers wide receiver.
For a piece published Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated acknowledged that “Nabers’ reputation for being high maintenance was a concern for teams” ahead of the draft. However, Breer added that Schoen and Giants head coach Brian Daboll “came to a comfort level pretty quickly” regarding Nabers.
“(Daboll and Schoen) went to dinner with Nabers on the 30 visit,” Breer noted. “Ahead of the LSU pro day, because Daboll and Schoen were at the owners meetings and had to fly in the morning of to see the workout, the Giants sent a couple of staffers to another dinner with him. They met at the combine, and Schoen also saw Nabers play live over Labor Day weekend against Florida State.”
Interestingly, Breer added that Schoen and Daboll both have experience working with receivers “that could be a little much” behind the scenes. Breer specifically named six-time Pro Bowl selection Brandon Marshall, current Houston Texans star Stefon Diggs and Carolina Panthers legend Steve Smith.
“While there were some headaches with those guys, all three had a fierce competitiveness that, in most cases, would supersede the issues between the lines,” Breer said. “Nabers doesn’t turn 21 until late July, so the hope is he’ll continue to mature and grow into someone who can handle being a star in New York. And as that happens, the Giants are pretty confident the stuff you can’t teach will continue to show up.”
Questions about the future of quarterback Daniel Jones have hovered over the Giants since this past fall, meaning Daboll and Schoen took a risk in drafting Nabers instead of Washington signal-caller Michael Penix Jr., Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix of the Oregon.
If Daboll and Schoen are wrong about Nabers maturing and growing coming off a relatively harmless Offensive Rookie of the Year Award bet gone wrong, Giants co-owner John Mara could blow things up as soon as January 2025.
More must-reads:
- Early 2025 mock draft has Giants, Cowboys hitting reset at QB
- NFC rookie check-in: 2024 draft picks who could replace a veteran
- The ‘New York Giants head coaches’ quiz
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NFL
Cowboys’ late round draft pick disagreeing with popular football take couldn’t be more perfect
In his first year of college, Dallas Cowboys cornerback and fifth-round draft pick Caelen Carson earned a nickname that would make any defensive back in the nation proud as heck. Seatbelt. The reason? He was locking everybody up. Doing so as a true freshman, his roommate promptly gave him the moniker. Coming into the NFL, Carson’s biggest calling card is his flexibility. At college, he lined up primarily at wide corner but when needed moved inside. In 2023, he essentially split the snaps 50/50 in a couple of games, moving around as needed. “That was a big thing with them drafting me and people who were looking at me in the draft,” Carson told reporters during rookie minicamp. “Just versatility, I think I can play inside and outside, so I think I can show that.” As passing offenses take ahold of the NFL, a big talking point over the last few years has been the rise of the nickelback, with some coaches going as far as calling it the most difficult position on defense. Corners that man the slot need to worry about fitting the run and about making the tackle in the box all while also taking care of wide receivers running up the seam on vertical routes. It’s a tough job. That’s why it was almost perfect when Carson dismissed all that talk and laid out why he believes playing out wide and playing inside is the same thing. “Not really,” he said when asked if playing outside and inside was very different. “Because you’re covering somebody regardless and then you’re in zone (coverage), you’re in zone regardless. Not too much a difference.” Carson will have a very unique mentor on the Cowboys roster in that sense as DaRon Bland’s career path had him play inside as a rookie before he took on a role outside following Trevon Diggs’ injury early in the 2023 season. Bland went on to win All-Pro. Carson claims he’s comfortable wherever they ask him to play and expects to be a Bland-type player in that sense. “I think I can cover,” Carson added. “It doesn’t really matter to me. I feel comfortable anywhere on the field, corner, nickel, anything. I think I can cover anywhere.” I don’t know about you, but hearing this from a player who was picked because of his versatility feels absolutely perfect and says everything about the player the Cowboys got. Even still, fans should temper their expectations as Carson is likely going to fill a special teams role before he sniffs the field as a defender as the Cowboys are set starting lineup-wise with Diggs, Bland, and Jourdan Lewis.
NHL
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, and Joel Quenneville
Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils coaching search, and Joel Quenneville‘s situation Sportsnet 960: Frank Seravalli on the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils coaching search, and Joel Quenneville’s situation. Seravalli: “There’s no doubt that Craig Berube‘s pretty high up on their list. It’s just will New Jersey act first and scurry to make sure that they get the guy that they want. And if they do, or depending on how that works out, that’s certainly going to impact the Toronto situation as well, because I expect Todd McLellan to be on Toronto’s list as well.” Host: “Is Joel Quenneville on the Maple Leafs list? Seravalli: “I don’t know that for certain. I’ve seen some of the reporting and that he’s on their wish list. I, doesn’t really matter if he’s on their list or not, he’s not eligible. So until that changes, or unless that changes. The commissioner hasn’t made any sort of ruling one way or the other. And I think that’s the toughest part. We’ve talked a lot about this with Joel Quenneville, you know, between us on this show, and I think that’s the hardest part is whether you want to suspend them for two years, three years, 10 years, permanently, whatever it might be. He deserves to have a state, a sentence to, to know what’s happening next. Am I going to work in this league again or not?” David Pagnotta: “As teams evaluate their coaching options, I’m told Joel Quenneville’s status remains unchanged – he is still ineligible to coach. Edit: Some teams have indeed reached out, but also told his status is still the same. The Leafs, as of now, are not one of those teams.” Steve Simmons: “Never mind Craig Berube, Joel Quenneville is the best choice to be the next coach of the Maple Leafs.”
NBA
‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Bucks’ Damian Lillard To Cavaliers
One NBA writer proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Damian Lillard from the Milwaukee Bucks this summer. Fran Leiva of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Cavaliers and Bucks: Potential Trade Offer For Damian Lillard: Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, 2031 first-round pick Lillard averaged 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the Bucks this season while shooting 42.4% from the field, 35.4% from beyond the arc and 92.0% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $48.8 million next season. “For Cleveland, securing Lillard would mean not only gaining a proven playoff performer but also possibly increasing their appeal to retain Donovan Mitchell by pairing him with another elite scorer,” Leiva wrote. “The trade could balance both teams’ needs: Milwaukee could reboot with younger, capable players while managing their salary cap, and Cleveland could solidify their roster to better compete in the tough Eastern Conference landscape. This strategic exchange would be a pivotal move for both franchises, aiming to optimize their current assets and future prospects.” The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games. Lillard played in four games and averaged 31.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists. One of the best scorers and shooters in NBA history, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists with the Portland Trail Blazers and Bucks. He’s made eight All-Star teams and seven All-NBA teams. If the Cavaliers acquired Lillard, Mitchell would likely sign an extension this summer. The shooting guard can sign an extension for up to four years and around $200 million this offseason. He has a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season. Mitchell can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he declines that player option. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, there is a growing belief that the Cavaliers will be forced to trade Mitchell if an extension isn’t reached. During the 2023-24 regular season, Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 86.5% from the free-throw line.
