Field Yates: LSU's Malik Nabers is 'most explosive player' in 2024 NFL Draft, worth Top 5 pick

Former LSU star receiver Malik Nabers could be the answer for a team early in the NFL Draft looking for pure explosive playmaking ability. And Nabers’ abilities are so impressive that ESPN draft analyst Field Yates wouldn’t hesitate to spend a Top 5 pick on Nabers.

That also means Yates thinks the margin between Nabers and Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. as the top wideout is smaller than people think. It could be a matter of preference at the end of the day.

“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.”

Absent measurable athletic explosion, Yates falls back on the tape with Nabers, which provides plenty of promising upside and production.

And in that realm, he’s undeniable in his ability to change a game with a single play. Yates noted a long touchdown pass early on the road against Alabama as the type of thing Nabers can do.

“Jayden Daniels throws a ball about 45, 50 yards in the air to Malik Nabers against an Alabama secondary that’s got at least two second round cornerbacks, Terrion Arnold could go in the first round, maybe Kool-Aid McKinstry will join him or somewhere in the second round,” Yates said. “And he’s just running right past a Nick Saban-coached defense and secondary at a different speed. 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.”

And with his game-changing ability, Yates thinks Nabers is just as deserving of Top 5 consideration as Harrison or any other prospect. After all, only so many players come around who can pretty comfortably be considered a walking, talking touchdown scoring threat.

“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,” Yates said.