Ex-New York Giants safety thinks Odell Beckham Jr. could mentor Malik Nabers

USA Today

3 days ago

The New York Giants are at a tipping point in 2025. If they don't perform well this year, there's relative certainty that Brian Daboll will lose his job. Joe Schoen is on the hot seat, too, but Daboll will be the one to go first.
It would be everyone's preference, including the Giants', that the scenario doesn't play out. Consistency and continuity are the best recipe for long-term success.
Daboll has a new roster to work with in 2025, and with training camp just one week away, the Giants want to ensure he has the best roster possible. Two former Giants who have expressed interest in returning are wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.
Recently, Antrel Rolle spoke with Gambling Industry News, and he was asked if it made sense for either of those players to return.
"I'd love to see it, but that's me being biased because those are my boys. I'd love to see them go out on their own terms at MetLife Stadium. Obviously, we know Odell's had a lot of injuries, but I still think Odell has a lot left in the tank," Rolle said. "I just don't feel like he's been used properly. The last time we saw that was when he was with L.A.
"We have yet to see him used like that since then. If he's healthy, I'd still say OBJ, with his route-running and the way he can separate in and out of breaks, he can be a top-15 receiver in the game today. If he's targeted correctly."
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"And JPP is just an absolute freak. I would love to see both my guys go out on their own terms in MetLife Stadium. That would be dope," he said.
JPP, as a standout edge rusher, got his start in New York and played eight seasons in blue. His last true season was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, although he appeared on two additional practice squads in 2023.
As for OBJ, well, Giants fans don't forget, and with a new regime in the office, a return, although unlikely, isn't entirely out of the question. Rolle believes he could be a good mentor for Malik Nabers.
"Oh, absolutely, it would be helpful. One of my mentors, Deon Grant, taught me so much on and off the field. You can't put a price on those things," Rolle said. "He was such a pivotal part for us in that (2012) Super Bowl run, and a lot of times it was behind closed doors. The only people that knew were the players. No coaches, no media, none of that. Those things are such hidden gifts."
Nabers is entering his second season with the Giants, and his rookie campaign had him in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation before Jayden Daniels ran away with it. He and OBJ share an alma mater, and with Beckham's experience through all of the drama he perpetuated, he can certainly pass on some knowledge.