The friendly competition between Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers will never stop

The mockery followed Malik Nabers the day after a late-game loss.

“You suck,” Jayden Daniels told him.

The LSU teammates who became top-10 picks make it a point to watch each other's NFL games, and some competition inevitably follows. The New York Giants' rookie receiver let a fourth-quarter slant pass slip from his grasp in Monday night's loss, giving the Washington Commanders quarterback the opportunity to fire his final shot over video chat.

“He definitely knows how to piss me off,” Nabers said with a laugh when asked about Daniels' comment.

Don't worry. It was Nabers' turn to respond.

It may seem harsh, but the joking comment comes from a place of competition, respect and friendship. LSU's power duo may have entered the NFL on separate teams this year – Daniels went No. 2 to Washington and Nabers went No. 6 with New York – but the back-and-forth of familiarity helped them along Its current height was built in Baton Rouge.

“It’s just extra motivation to make sure we do everything right,” Nabers said. “It's like, 'Get to the point.' We don’t want to see each other fail.”

Fortune brought the two together at LSU in 2022, at turning points in their respective journeys. Daniels attracted significant attention as a top quarterback recruit from Southern California's Inland Empire region and as a 17-year-old freshman at Arizona State. He arrived in the Deep South with his trademark quiet confidence just as Nabers was assuming “the alpha dog role” in the program, said Mike Denbrock, former LSU offensive coordinator and current Notre Dame offensive coordinator. Daniels ranked fourth on the first quarterback depth chart.

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There was an emotional process where they got to know each other as teammates and built trust. Daniels impressed Nabers with how his goal of moving up the league motivated those around him to work harder. Whether it was the early morning workouts or the extra film sessions, Nabers watched Daniels always play a leadership role. A throwing trip with the receivers to California when Daniels first arrived at LSU strengthened their bond and led to the duo no longer being just teammates.

“In my opinion, it's a friendship born of two men who recognized themselves in each other,” Denbrock said. “And the competitiveness that they had with each other made each individual that much better and made the people around them better.”

Their pairing at LSU was the beginning of an ever-increasing back and forth. For example, in practice, make a low thrown punch.

“I would say, ‘Brother, what are you doing? Like you're tripping. “Throw the ball straight,” Nabers remembers telling Daniels. “He would say, 'Well, catch the ball where I throw it to you.'”

Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers' outstanding final seasons at LSU resulted in them being selected among the top six players in the 2024 NFL Draft. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

It became their modus operandi. Constant sporting debates shaped their everyday lives: Who was faster? Who could do that? Who could do that?

“It was pretty good-natured fun,” Denbrock said. “I think underneath you could always tell that the two of them were so competitive that even though they were joking with each other, they were serious at the same time. They actually believed it.”

As LSU recruiting specialist Sherman Wilson said, “It’s like those old (Michael) Jordan (and Mia Hamm) commercials: Anything you can do, I can do better. That's pretty much their relationship. Challenge each other, outdo each other.”

When Daniels and Nabers found their ambitious doppelganger despite their different personalities, “it created an energy that allowed them to grow,” Wilson said.

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“I’m definitely quieter than him,” Daniels said of the extroverted Nabers. “But on the field, I believe we both have a common goal: to go out and win, by any means necessary. That's the main thing. I guess that’s why we juggle so much.”

When LSU's 2023 season began, the two played in perfect harmony.

“Jayden could make throws that other guys couldn’t catch,” Wilson said, “but Malik was able to work together because of their offseason.”

Their goals came close to reality. Nabers finished his college career as the Tigers' all-time leader in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003). However, Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. edged him out for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the country's best wide receiver. Daniels won the Heisman Trophy after throwing 40 touchdown passes, scoring 50 touchdowns and averaging 412.2 yards per game, while setting an FBS passer rating record (208.01).

They became “a bit of an unstoppable duo,” Denbrock said.

These impressive resumes thrilled scouts. After two years of making history together in the South, the two began suiting up for opposing teams in the NFC East.

In Week 2, they met on an NFL field for the first time. Nabers was arguably the game's best player, dominating Washington's secondary with 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. The Commanders didn't find the end zone all game, but Daniels led them to points on every drive and came from behind to win 21-18. The Giants have fallen to 2-6 in recent weeks and are on a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, Washington is seeking its first 7-2 start since 1996.

You knew this jersey swap was coming@LSUfootball | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/BuHNJnlaWa

– Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 15, 2024

Entering Week 9, Daniels is second in the league with a 71.8 completion percentage for 1,736 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns (seven passes) and 424 yards on the ground. Nabers has 46 receptions for 498 yards and three touchdowns despite missing two games due to a concussion. The other LSU rookie headliner and allied friend, Jacksonville Jaguars first-round wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., entered the NFL week sixth with 573 receiving yards.

“So far we can say that we have had good years,” said the very understated Daniels. “We just have to keep building. There is no one I would rather have gone through this process with.”

But amidst their historic seasons, the two friends continue to be each other's conversation partners and have conversations almost daily.

And yes, there is still that “friendly” talk.

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Ask them about their game day fit and who will win the best dressed category based on votes cast by LSU friends, and you won't get a straight answer. Even their hairstyles spark debates about who had it first. But the exchange always goes back to where everything originates: football.

While Nabers struggled with the decline in his prime-time performance on Monday, Daniels delivered a dose of heroics to starved Washington fans on Sunday. He connected with Noah Brown on a game-winning Hail Mary touchdown against the Chicago Bears despite playing with a rib injury.

“That was crazy,” Nabers told Daniels after the game. “But yeah, you won’t get that next week.”

(Top illustration: Andy Lyons, Jonathan Bachman, Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)