The Giants have scouts for these things, but there is a saying that game recognizes game.
Malik Nabers definitely has it. Does his potential future quarterback have it?
The wide receiver recently joined SiriusXM NFL Radio during Super Bowl Week, and naturally the topic of Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, two quarterbacks often projected to the Giants in mock drafts, came up in the conversation.
Nabers broke them both down, starting with Ward.
"He's comfortable when he's back there," Nabers said on "Airing It Out" with Amber Theoharis and Patrick Peterson. "He throws the ball in spots you're not really supposed to throw the ball, but he has that crazy arm talent. He's mobile. I've seen him come back from some games. I'm like, nah, this game is over with, and he's just dotting. He's very efficient. He has crazy arm talent. I feel like he's a leader that wants to bring people along to win. You look at that Miami team through the years. Without him, their record wasn't like that. You bring a guy like that on the team, you know the record shows what kind of leader he is, what kind of quarterback he is. So, having that on a team, that's what you need."
As a redshirt senior transfer, Ward delivered one of best seasons by a quarterback in program history and became the Hurricanes' first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2002. College football's highest award ultimately went to two-way star Travis Hunter, who is also in play at the top of the draft. But it's his former quarterback who has fans buzzing.
"I've been watching him a long time," Nabers said of Sanders, who was part of his 2021 recruiting class. "He has another crazy arm talent. He gives his guys that opportunity to go make plays. He's not scared. He wants to win, and he's a leader from what I heard in that locker room. He's a great leader, so I don't have anything bad to say about both of them. They're pretty good. I see them competing against each other when I see the clips of them, and they want to be the best."
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his initial ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 50 Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
No. 49 Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
No. 48 Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State
No. 47 Marcus Mbow, T, Purdue
No. 46 Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan
No. 45 Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
No. 44 Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
No. 43 Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
No. 42 T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
No. 41 Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
No. 40 Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State
No. 39 Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
No. 38 Josh Conerly Jr., T, Oregon
No. 37 Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
No. 36 TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
No. 35 Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
No. 34 Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
No. 33 Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
No. 32 Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
No. 31 Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
No. 30 Josh Simmons, T, Ohio State
No. 29 Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
No. 28 Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
No. 27 Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
No. 26 Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
No. 25 Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
No. 24 Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
No. 23 Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
No. 22 Derrick Harmon, DT, Michigan State
No. 21 Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
No. 20 James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
No. 19 Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas
No. 18 Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
No. 17 Armand Membou, IOL, Missouri
No. 16 Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
No. 15 Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
No. 14 Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
No. 13 Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
No. 12 Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
No. 11 Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
No. 10 Cam Ward, QB, Miami
No. 9 Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
No. 8 Will Campbell, T, LSU
No. 7 Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
No. 6 Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
No. 5 Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
No. 4 Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
No. 3 Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
No. 2 Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
No. 1 Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
The Giants have made it clear that finding their quarterback of the future is the No. 1 priority this offseason. Whether that happens through the draft or free agency, the player will have No. 1 at his disposal.
Nabers isn't at the Super Bowl just because it's in his home state of Louisiana. LSU's career leader in receptions and receiving yards is a finalist for both AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and the fan-driven Pepsi Rookie of the Year. The winners will be announced during NFL Honors on Thursday night from the Saenger Theater in New Orleans.
Nabers, who also recently participated in his first Pro Bowl, racked up the accolades after he broke the Giants' single-season reception record. But he admitted that the jump to the NFL wasn't as effortless as he made it look.
"At LSU, they're always going to make sure we're ready, but it was a transition," Nabers said. "There was doubt in my mind when it was time for the combine. Will I be able to play with these guys coming in? But with a strong faith in God, a strong family pushing me into it, once I got into it, the confidence level got high after I finished the spring. Going into the fall, I was doing good. I had a lot of hype around me. I felt like I was going into the season pretty good. Brian Daboll did a great job of making sure I was prepared with the offense, making sure …. that I was going to get a lot of targets, so I had to be ready every game. I knew I was going to be able to get the ball a lot, but I had to get open."
View photos of Dexter Lawrence and Malik Nabers at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, where Eli Manning 3-peated as head coach of the NFC.
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers, of the New York Giants, right, catches a pass while defended by AFC safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39), of the Pittsburgh Steelers, during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Orlando. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
NFC linebacker Dexter Lawrence (97), of the New York Giants, dunks head coach Eli Manning toward the end of their win in the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl Games on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Vera Nieuwenhuis/AP Images for NFL)
FC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1), of the New York Giants, reaches for the end zone during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl Games on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Doug Benc/AP Images for NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) scores a touchdown during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1), Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrate in the end zone during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants makes a catch during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
NFC defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence (97) and wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants are interviewed during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) celebrates after a play during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Special guest Terry Crews interviews AFC head coach Peyton Manning and NFC head coach Eli Manning before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants runs up field during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
NFC head coach Eli Manning looks on during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) participates in "The Big Spike" challenge during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants looks on during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts prior to the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) participates in the Relay Race competition during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts prior to the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
Players from the NFC Pro Bowl Team take a team picture on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 in Orlando. (Don Montague/AP Images for the NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning gestures before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Former quarterback Eli Manning and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) interact before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning walks on the field before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Special guest and host Terry Crews interviews NFC head coach Eli Manning and AFC head coach Peyton Manning during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning gestures before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) participates in the Relay Race competition during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning looks on before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) walks onto the field before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) participates in the Relay Race competition during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning walks on the field before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants signs autographs during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
AFC head coach Peyton Manning, Terry Crews, and NFC head coach Eli Manning interact during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants makes a catch during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) participates in "The Big Spike" challenge during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
AFC head coach Peyton Manning looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants looks on during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC head coach Eli Manning looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) smiles during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Mike Evans (13) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Eli Manning talk during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) participates in "The Big Spike" challenge during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Former quarterbacks Eli Manning and Peyton Manning pose with Pro Bowl quarterbacks before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) of the New York Giants arrives during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts to scoring a touchdown during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) participates in "The Big Spike" challenge during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
From left to right: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6), Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), former quarterback Eli Manning, former quarterback Peyton Manning, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3), Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9), and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) pose for a photo before the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on prior to the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) participates in "The Big Spike" challenge during the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills Showdown on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during a practice session prior to an NFL Pro Bowl football game, , Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts to scoring a touchdown during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC coach Eli Manning takes the field before the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Orlando. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) reacts to scoring a touchdown during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFL Pro Bowl Games signage is viewed at Camping World Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
NFC coach Eli Manning looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFL Pro Bowl Games signage is viewed at Camping World Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs the ball during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFL Pro Bowl Games signage is viewed at Camping World Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
NFL Pro Bowl Games signage is viewed at Camping World Stadium, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
NFC coach Eli Manning reacts during the "Punt Perfect" challenge 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) greet each other prior to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs the ball during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFC coach Eli Manning looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) runs the ball during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) looks on during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/NFL)
NFC coach Eli Manning walks onto the field during player introductions prior to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sunday, February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NFL)
NFC wide receiver Malik Nabers, of the New York Giants, celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Orlando. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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