Giants secure a physical, big-play receiver. Malachi Fields' contested catches and downfield prowess impress, offering a potent threat for New York.
The New York Giants drafted former Notre Dame standout wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Fields was taken with the 74th overall pick.
Fields spent just one season at Notre Dame, but it was certainly an impactful one. The 6-4, 218-pound wide receiver caught 36 passes for 630 yards, averaging an impressive 17.5 yards per catch while hauling in five touchdowns. Fields was also an outstanding downfield blocker and played a key role in Notre Dame's dominance on the ground this season.
Although his overall numbers won't blow you away, Fields was at his best in the biggest moments. In five games against ranked opponents, Fields caught 20 passes for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His contested catch rate was also higher in those five games than we saw in the other seven games. Fields made a number of highlight reel plays in his one season with the Irish, mostly involving him making tough downfield catches along the sideline or beating the defense over the top. His one-handed grab in the 37-15 win over then No. 22-ranked Pittsburgh was certainly the most memorable play of his Notre Dame career. In that win, Fields hauled in seven passes for 99 yards and two scores, all of which were his single-game best at Notre Dame.
Fields spent the first four years of his career at the University of Virginia. The Charlottesville native caught 129 passes for 1,849 yards and 11 touchdowns during his career with the Cavaliers. He caught 58 passes for 811 yards in 2023 and 55 passes for 808 yards in 2024. Fields caught five touchdown passes in each season. For his entire career, Fields hauled in 165 passes for 2,479 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 16.0 yards per catch.
Fields is the first Notre Dame receiver to get drafted since 2021 and he's the highest drafted wideout since Chase Claypool went in round two back in 2020.
SCOUTING MALACHI FIELDS
If you want a big-bodied boundary receiver that can thrive in the run game, win contested catch situations and still win down the field then Fields is your man. At 6-4 and 218 pounds with a 79" wingspan, Fields certainly has the physique of a big play wide receiver. His 38" vertical jump and strong hands adds to his ability to make big plays on the perimeter in tough coverage situations. Fields is a dependable receiver that was targeted 156 times the last two seasons, but he had just three drops and had 24 contested catches.
Fields lacks the ideal vertical speed that scouts covet, running just a 4.61 at the Combine, but he's a strong all-around athlete and that speed plays well when factoring in his size, ball skills and strength. Fields ran a 6.98 three-cone at the Combine and had a 4.26 in the pro shuttle at the Notre Dame Pro Day. At Virginia, Fields showed an ability to make plays after the catch in the quick game/screen game, something we didn't see utilized much at Notre Dame.
Fields is a quality route runner that improved his ability to win at the line this past season. He needs to enhance his release repertoire, including using his strength more, but it's a quality part of his game. At times he can be a bit choppy with his top ends, but he understands using leverage and can manipulate defenders with his release and top end movement.
IB Draft Analysis
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