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It took just one season in the NFL for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers to establish himself as a star player. But it may well have taken just two seasons for him to consider finding a new team.
The Giants selected Nabers with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and despite a shaky quarterback situation, the former LSU star hauled in 109 passes for 1,204 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie.
Unfortunately, his sophomore campaign was cut short after suffering a torn ACL, and we never got the opportunity to see what he’d look like playing alongside Jaxson Dart, whom New York hopes is its future at the quarterback position.
Now, it appears that Nabers is already thinking about the next step in his career.
Malik Nabers Brings Up Possibility Of Trade From New York Giants
After trading star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Giants had two picks in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
While many believed that new head coach John Harbaugh would focus on the defensive side of the ball, New York was also heavily linked to star wide receiver prospects Carnell Tate of Ohio State and Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State.
That didn’t sit well with Nabers.
#Giants WR Malik Nabers on what would happen if the Giants took a WR at #5:
“You’re gonna pay him more than me and I’m your #1 WR. When he’s in Year 3 and I need a contract… you gonna just trade Malik.”
Micah Parsons’ reaction: “Welcome to my world.” 😂
(via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/LkucfHEZCO
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 24, 2026
“Understand, you draft a receiver and you put him alongside of me, yes?” Nabers said of the possibility. “But you’re basically going to pay him more than me, and I’m your No. 1 receiver … Then after that, it’s like you paid him, and I’m going on year three. In two more years, he’s gonna be going into year three, and I’m probably gonna be in (a) contract (year)
“You’re basically saying, okay, cool, we had our No. 1, but we already drafted our No. 1 receiver at five. We can just trade Malik and then just put him in the role.”
Ultimately, Tate went off the board at No. 4, and the Giants used the No. 5 pick to select edge rusher Arvell Reese out of Ohio State, which also didn’t sit well with Nabers.
Tyson then went No. 8 to the New Orleans Saints, leaving the Giants to select Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.
For now, it appears Nabers is in New York for the foreseeable future. But he’s clearly already already assesing all his options.