Giants' Star Snubbed on List of 25 Best Under 25

Malik Nabers' devastating knee injury doomed his 2025 season, and is threatening his 2026 campaign too.

But it also is leaving the New York Giants star wide receiver out of mind on the list of the NFL's best players.

The Giants' No. 1 receiver was deemed one of the "toughest cuts" on the list of the 25 best players under age-25 that was produced by Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports.

Nabers, who will turn 23 on July 28, earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie year (2024) while setting the Giants' single-season record for catches (109). Even though he only played four games a season ago, Nabers averaged 67.8 yards per game in 2025.

Malik Nabers was Snubbed on the CBS List of Top-25 Under 25

Most of the players on the CBS Sports-compiled list were 25, yet there were exceptions. Jahmyr Gibbs (24, No. 9), Brock Bowers (23, No. 11), De'Von Achane (24, No. 21) and Colston Loveland (22, No. 25) were among the offensive players that landed on the list.

So Sullivan qualified leaving Nabers off the initial top-25 list. But he undoubtedly forgot how Nabers finished seventh in the NFL in receiving yards in his rookie season and had the NFL's fifth-most catches -- and third-most of all wideouts, ahead of superstars CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson -- in 2024.

All that helped Nabers land as the top-35 players under the age of 25.

But Giants fans will surely be outraged by the fact he was denied as one of the NFL's best young players. They may be extra sore since former New York Jets and current Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner still ended up on the list (25, No. 23) after his inconsistent and injury-plagued 2025.

Giants Rivals Appeared on the 25-Under-25 List

Nabers was the only Giants player considered on the top-25 list. But several other Giants rivals were ranked.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (25, No. 8), Philadelphia Eagles defenders Quinyon Mitchell (25, No. 15), Jalen Carter (25, No. 17) and Cooper DeJean (23, No. 22) and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (25, No. 18) are NFC players named.

Plus, Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith (25) landed alongside Nabers on the tough-cuts section.

So while Nabers will be playing to show he belongs on a list like this next offseason, the Giants will also get to see a lot of the NFL's best young players in 2026.

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 6:36 PM.