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Rookie Report

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2024 Rookie Progress Report: Season Review

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The 2024 campaign is officially in the rearview mirror.

While the season did not go as the Giants would have hoped, the performance of the rookie class was one of the biggest bright spots.

The Giants got significant contributions from all six members of their 2024 draft class, along with a few undrafted free agents. Ten different rookies played at least one offensive or defensive snap, with the group totaling 4,702 snaps on the season, according to Pro Football Focus. This fell just 162 snaps short of the Los Angeles Rams' rookie class for the most in the NFL, an impressive feat considering both Tyler Nubin and Theo Johnson missed the final month of the season due to injuries.

With all of that said, let's take one final look at the performance of the Giants' 2024 rookie class.

View photos of the Giants' 2024 rookie class in their first NFL season.

WR Malik Nabers

Despite missing two games and catching passes from four different quarterbacks, Nabers still put together a rookie campaign for the history book. The 21-year-old set a new franchise record with 109 receptions, beating Steve Smith's previous record of 107 catches set in 2009, which he took for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. Not only did Nabers set a new Giants record for receptions in a season, but he also caught the most passes of any rookie wide receiver in NFL history, topping Puka Nacua's 105 receptions in 2023.

Nabers finished with five or more receptions in 14 of the 15 games he played in, which is the most outings with five or more catches by a rookie in NFL history. The previous high was 12 such games, a mark shared by Terry Glenn and Anquan Boldin. Nabers finished fifth in the NFL with his 109 receptions (and third among wide receivers), while his 1,204 receiving yards finished seventh. PFF ranked him as the third-best rookie overall from the 2024 season. Nabers' rookie campaign will go down as one of the best by a wide receiver in NFL history.

S Tyler Nubin

Prior to his season-ending foot injury suffered in Week 13, Nubin had developed into one of the most reliable players on the Giants' defense. The rookie safety missed only two defensive snaps through the first 12 weeks of the season while also contributing on special teams. Not only was he on the field, but Nubin was also playing well, as the 23-year-old was leading all rookies in total tackles prior to his injury.

Even with him missing the final four games of the season, Nubin still finished second among Giants rookies in snaps played. 440 of those snaps were spent in coverage, where he allowed just 19 receptions for 204 yards and zero touchdowns all season. Nubin's 98 total tackles and 57 solo tackles finished second on the team. He also ranked as PFF's second-best rookie safety in run defense.

CB Dru Phillips

Phillips made a strong first impression in his NFL debut, forcing a fumble and picking up a tackle for loss in the Week 1 matchup against the Vikings. From there, the rookie cornerback never looked back. Phillips played in 14 games this season, and after the season opener, was on the field for no less than 68 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 11 of 13 contests. The only two games he played fewer snaps than that was when he got injured in Week 3, and then his first game back in Week 5.

The 23-year-old finished the season having allowed 41 receptions for 373 yards and just one touchdown on 335 snaps in coverage. Of the 77 cornerbacks across the NFL that played at least 600 total snaps this season, Phillips ranked as PFF's seventh-best corner. When it came to the 2024 rookie class, Phillips was PFF's second-best corner, only behind Philadelphia's Cooper DeJean. The Giants' third-round pick landed at No. 13 on PFF's list of the top rookies from the 2024 season.

TE Theo Johnson

Johnson had a bit of a slow start to his rookie campaign as he caught just three total passes through the first four games. But from Week 5 on, the rookie tight end started to get going. Johnson had three or more receptions in seven of his final eight games while registering 30 or more receiving yards in all seven of those outings before a foot injury suffered in Week 13 ended his season early.

Johnson's final game of the season was also his best. The 6-foot-6 tight end caught all five targets thrown his way for a season-high 54 yards in the Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Cowboys. Despite missing the final five games of the season, Johnson still finished 16th among all rookies in receiving yards and third among first-year tight ends.

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.

After playing in a reserve role in the first four games of the season, Tracy was given an opportunity to start in Week 5. The rookie running back took this opportunity and ran with it as he quickly took over the Giants' backfield. The fifth-round pick rushed for 129 yards in his first career start, and followed that up with over 100 total yards of offense the following week, more than half of which came through the air. This served as foreshadowing for the rest of Tracy's rookie campaign, as the former wide receiver made an impact as both a rusher and a receiver.

Tracy finished the season with 839 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, with an average of 4.4 yards per carry, while adding 38 receptions for 284 yards and an additional score as a receiver. By topping 1,000 yards of offense, Tracy and Nabers became just the third pair of rookie teammates in NFL history to both reach 1,000 yards, and only the second since the NFL merger in 1970. Tracy ranked second among rookie running backs in Giants history with his 839 rushing yards, 1,123 scrimmage yards and 38 receptions, trailing only Saquon Barkley in all three categories. Nabers and Tracy's 2,329 combined yards of offense set a Giants rookie record, beating the 2,191 combined yards from Odell Beckham Jr. and Andre Williams in 2014. Tracy also finished third among the league's rookies in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, while ranking sixth in scrimmage yards.

ILB Darius Muasau

Muasau got his rookie year off to a strong start with a tackle for loss and an interception in the season opener. For the next two months, the first-year linebacker played primarily on special teams while getting on the field for a handful of defensive snaps. However, injuries to Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden paved the way for Muasau to see extended action over the final five games of the season, an opportunity the young linebacker took full advantage of.

From Weeks 14-18, Muasau played no fewer than 76 percent of the team's defensive snaps each game. This included three games of playing every defensive snap and one outing where he missed just one snap. During this stretch, Muasau registered 41 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit. The rookie either led or finished second on the team in tackles in three of those five contests.

DL Elijah Chatman

Chatman played in all 17 games with three starts this season. The undrafted rookie recorded one sack, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits to go with his one fumble recovery. Chatman enjoyed some success as a pass rusher, as his 12 quarterback pressures were the sixth-most among rookie defensive tackles, according to Next Gen Stats.

G Jake Kubas

Kubas saw the field for the first time in Week 14. Due to various injuries along the offensive line late in the year, the undrafted rookie ended up starting the final three games of the season at guard (one game at left guard, two at right guard). Kubas did not surrender a single sack on his 125 pass blocking snaps across four games, and allowed no more than one total pressure in two of his three starts.

K Jude McAtamney

McAtamney was on the Giants' practice squad all season, but due to injuries to both Graham Gano and Greg Joseph, the rookie from Ireland kicked for the Giants in Week 9. He made his lone field goal attempt from 31 yards out and also connected on his only extra point attempt. He also had four of five kickoffs result in a touchback.

DL Casey Rogers

Rogers spent most of the year on the Giants' practice squad. However, the undrafted defensive lineman did get on the field in Weeks 14 and 15, playing a total of 33 defensive snaps and nine special teams snaps. He did not register any stats in his limited playing time.

RB Dante Miller

Miller also spent most of the season on the practice squad, although he was active for two games. With Devin Singletary out in Week 5, Miller was elevated to the active roster and played one offensive snap but did not touch the ball. In Week 6, he was on the field for seven special teams snaps and recorded one tackle.

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