Progress Report: How the rookies are doing

While the 2024 campaign has not gone how the Giants hoped, a bright spot has been the performance of the rookie class.

Heading into Week 11, the Giants are among the league leaders in snaps played by rookies. Not only have they played a lot, but they have also produced.

Through the first 10 games of the season, the Giants have had a player nominated for the Rookie of the Week award eight times – four by wide receiver Malik Nabers and four by running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.

“I think it’s important for veterans to have leadership presence, but I’d say our rookies have a lot of leadership in them too,” coach Brian Daboll told the media last week before the trip to Munich. “Again, they’re playing a lot of football. They’re learning as we go, but they all have the right mindset. I’m pleased with how they act outside the building, inside the building, the work they put in and their skill set. I really enjoy working with these young guys. They’re made of the right kind of stuff.”

Let’s take a look at how each member of the Giants’ rookie class has fared through the first 10 games of the season.

Stats: 8 games (7 starts), 61 receptions for 607 yards and 3 touchdowns

Malik Nabers’ career got off to an explosive start. The rookie wide receiver was targeted a whopping 52 times through the first four weeks of the season, which resulted in 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns. The No. 6 overall pick suffered a concussion at the end of the Week 4 game against the Cowboys, which led to him missing the next two contests as he progressed through the concussion protocol. In the four weeks since returning, Nabers’ targets have picked up right where he left off with 42 passes thrown his way. But the wideout has totaled 26 receptions for 221 yards and no touchdowns during that span.

Despite the dip in production in recent weeks, Nabers still leads the Giants with 61 receptions, 607 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He ranks third in the NFL with his 61 receptions and sits just five catches shy of Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for the league-lead, even though he has played in two fewer games. Meanwhile, his 607 receiving yards are tied with Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for the most among all rookies (Thomas has also played two more games than Nabers).

Stats: 10 games (10 starts), 69 total tackles (43 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Tyler Nubin has been one of the most consistent players on the Giants’ defense this season. The rookie safety has registered eight or more total tackles in five of the last seven games, including several outings where he finished as the team’s leading tackler. But perhaps the most impressive part of the second-round pick’s performance this season has been his ability to stay on the field. Through the first 10 weeks, Nubin has played every defensive snap in nine games, and has missed just two total defensive snaps overall.

Heading into the bye, Nubin ranks second on the team with 69 total tackles, while his 43 solo tackles are the most on the defense. Additionally, his 69 total tackles also leads all rookies. Nubin has also recorded three tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Stats: 9 games (4 starts), 43 total tackles (26 solo), 1.0 sack, 6 tackles for loss, 1 quarterback hit, 2 forced fumbles

Dru Phillips is another reason why the rookie class has gotten off to such a strong start. The third-round pick has played well in both the run and pass game this season, and is coming off one of the best games of his young NFL career. Phillips registered just four total tackles (three solo) against the Panthers in Munich, but added his second forced fumble of the season. The young cornerback was also great in coverage, allowing three receptions for only six yards on 22 coverage snaps. This earned him a passer rating against of 64.6, along with Pro Football Focus’ Rookie of the Week award.

Phillips’ season totals include 43 tackles (26 solo) and one sack, while his two forced fumbles are tied with Bobby Okereke for the most on the team. Meanwhile, his six tackles for loss rank fourth behind Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Azeez Ojulari. Not only does Phillips land inside the top 5 of PFF’s list of the season’s top rookies, but he is also one of the analytics site’s top cornerbacks overall in coverage this year.