After the New York Giants passed on Caleb Downs not once, but twice, in the 2026 NFL Draft, saying they regretted it would be a stretch, but it definitely stung to see where he ended up. One pick after the Giants took Francis Mauigoa, the Dallas Cowboys traded up one spot to take Downs at No. 11
Giants fans online are in shambles knowing he will be the new centerpiece of this Dallas defense, but Malik Nabers was more upset than anyone. During the Bleacher Report NFL Draft show with Micah Parsons, it's clear Nabers was not excited about the prospect of playing against Downs twice a year.
All he could really muster up without getting angry is "He's really good" and any football fan with a pulse who knows Caleb Downs' name knows this is true. There were many who believed him to be the best pure talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, so seeing him on the Cowboys will be a pretty painful sight.
Malik Nabers knows Caleb Downs will make the Giants regret passing on him
Nabers may not be a lock to be return Week 1, but he's definitely quivering a bit once he does return. It's not just Downs, it's Sonny Styles in Washington too. These NFC East defenses are getting loaded, and the 22-year-old knows it's gonna be a hard-fought battle once he does get back on the field.
The Cowboys had a historically bad defense in 2025, so naturally, it's just the Giants' luck that they pass on Downs and he still ends up in the NFC East. And it just so happens that Big Blue failed to add a weapon to complement the LSU product in the passing game, which would help against a guy like Downs.
It's safe to say the Giants fared well tonight anyways, but Downs is definitely going to add salt to the wound if he blossoms into a star as we expect, especially since he wanted to be John Harbaugh's new Kyle Hamilton.
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