Rookie offensive weapon immediately shows why Giants were so high on him with eye-opening preseason touchdown
Third-round pick Malachi Fields scored a 15-yard touchdown displaying his ability as a possession wide receiver.
The New York Giants got their first look at rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields in live NFL action, and the third-round pick delivered. Fields scored the Giants’ first touchdown of the preseason against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium, flashing the traits that made New York trade up to select him in this year’s draft. The play also highlighted quarterback Jaxson Dart‘s ability to extend plays and create outside the pocket, offering a glimpse of what the Giants offense could look like this season and beyond.
Fields wins at the catch point
The touchdown came on the Giants’ second offensive series of the second quarter, with the Vikings leading 3-0. Dart, under pressure from the 15-yard line, extended the play and found Fields on the left side of the end zone. Fields won at the top of the jump, beat Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., and hauled in the pass with two feet inbounds for his first touchdown as an NFL player.
It was a preseason moment, sure, but the details of the play matter. Fields showed strong hands, an understanding of the field, and the body control required of a possession receiver adapting to the NFL game. At 6-4, 218 pounds, he profiles as the kind of red zone threat the Giants desperately need alongside wide receiver Malik Nabers.
The touchdown was encouraging for Dart, too. His ability to evade pressure, create something out of nothing, and deliver an accurate pass to the end zone checked multiple boxes for the Giants’ offense. The play came shortly after Dart left the game following a big hit, was checked in the medical tent for a potential concussion, cleared the protocol, and returned to throw the touchdown to Fields.
If Dart can sustain that ability to extend plays and become more consistent, the Giants have the foundational pieces to build a functional passing attack. Tight end Isaiah Likely also saw two early targets in the first few drives, reinforcing that the weapons around Dart can develop into reliable options.
Malachi Fields is what the Giants’ offense needs
New York has Nabers as its clear No. 1 receiver, but the depth beyond him in the wide receiver room remains thin. That’s precisely why the Giants traded up to select Fields with the 74th overall pick. He played five college seasons, finishing at Notre Dame, where he posted 36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns across 12 games last year.
Fields doesn’t need to be a volume target to justify his selection. If he can serve as a consistent possession receiver and a reliable red zone weapon, he fills a gap the Giants couldn’t afford to ignore. The preseason debut against the Vikings showed the early returns on that investment are promising.
