INDIANAPOLIS — Both players believe they are the best wide receivers in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The near consensus is that Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. has that privilege, but don’t tell that to LSU’s Malik Nabors or Washington’s Roma Odunze.
There appears to be no path for Harrison to be the Giants’ No. 6.
There doesn’t seem to be a scenario where Nabors or Odunze don’t play when the Giants have time left.
When asked at Friday’s NFL Scouting Combine why he’s the best receiver in this draft, Nabors said, “I can go outside and win and I can get in the slot.” “I can move around and create space for the linebackers. I can run the ball pretty well.
“You can move yourself around in a different offense, but you still have that savage mentality.”
Now it’s Odunze’s turn.
“It’s me,” he said without a trace of pride. “I think my versatility on the field has shown all the skills that can be transferred to the NFL at a high level in different aspects of the game. I’m all positives.”
The 6-foot, 200-pound Nabors is only 20 years old, but he set an LSU record for receiving yards with 3,003 in three years.
By comparison, Odell Beckham Jr. is ninth on the list with 2,340 yards.
In 2023, Nabors had 89 catches, 1,569 yards, and 14 touchdowns.
Harrison and Nabors are believed to be the best prospects at the position since Ja’Marr Chase came out of LSU in 2021.
Odunze is also projected to be a top-10 prospect, with the Giants taking him at No. 6 considering he has great size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and was productive in 2023. It would not be impossible. All about Michael Penix Jr.’s tight spiral.
Odunze had 81 catches for 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the Huskies to the national championship game, where they lost to Michigan State.
Both players met with the Giants this week and returned with positive reports.
“Their head coach is [Brian Daboll], they love Dawg,” Nabers said. “I heard they were able to find the receiver they really wanted and have great plans for this season.
“It was a great interview. I don’t know if they’re looking for a good receiver, but I feel like the head coach really likes me, especially after Odell left, if they’re still I know we’re looking for that WR1. If I can come in and be that guy, then so be it.”
Odunze called the Giants “good guys” and praised the atmosphere.
“We had a little laugh there and they quizzed me about the movie and found out who I was and I started getting to know them too,” Odunze said.
“Honestly, I think they’re good guys. They just have joy in that room, they’re excited about the process, they know the ball, of course, and they’re excited about their future as well. I think good things will happen.”
The Giants have hired the former Patriots special teams coordinator.
As first reported by ESPN on Friday, Cam Accord will be the assistant special teams coordinator.
He fills the void created when Mike Adams moved from that role to assistant secondary coach.
Ironically, Accord was Joe Judge’s right-hand man with the Patriots in 2018 and 2019, and was chosen to replace Judge as the Patriots’ special teams coordinator when he became head coach of the Giants in 2020. It is.
The Accords defended their title the past two seasons after Judge returned to the Patriots as quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach.
Michael Gobrial was hired to run the Giants’ special teams earlier this offseason after assisting for the Jets over the past three seasons.
