The Dallas Cowboys came away big winners from the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, moving up one spot to steal Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who inexplicably fell outside the top 10 picks overall.
And the Cowboys weren't just winners in their own echo chamber. New York Giants star receiver Malik Nabers hated the fact that the Cowboys got Downs, especially because he wanted to see his own team take the Ohio State star with the 5th overall pick.
Nabers wasn't just caught lamenting the fact that the Cowboys got the guy he wanted, either. He was also very transparent in questioning the Giants' decision to take Ohio State pass rusher Arvell Reese with the 5th overall pick right after it happened.
Dallas Cowboys fans will love Malik Nabers' critical reaction to Giants' Arvell Reese pick
Here's what Nabers had to say as he was breaking down picks and reacting live with Bleacher Report during the first round:
"Don't get me wrong, I love the player, but like, where do you play? You wanna be on the outside and rush, but we just drafted somebody last year to do that same position."
- Giants WR Malik Nabers (via Bleacher Report's draft coverage)
Nabers wasn't going to come on Bleacher Report's draft programming and give any biased analysis; you have to give him that. And his reaction is priceless. You can feel his disappointment increasing the more he talks about it.
After Nabers was critical of the roster-building strategy, he talked about how much more sense Caleb Downs would have made.
"The reason why I said Caleb Downs...you have to get 'em when they're available. It's not saying that he's going to be (available at) 10. And because we just traded Dex (DL Dexter Lawrence), you need interior D-Line...I understand getting outside 'backer, he wants to rush -- okay, cool. But I'm saying though, when you eliminate something from there, you have to put something on the back end."
- Malik Nabers
Not only is Nabers making a statement that directly opposes his own team's roster-building strategy, but he's simultaneously lamenting that his team didn't get the player (at 5 overall) that the Cowboys stole at 11.
And on top of it all, he's indirectly making a statement about 2024 2nd-round pick Tyler Nubin and/or big-money free agent Jevon Holland.
It's just a cathartic clip for Cowboys fans, no matter what way you slice it.
But the best part of it all is that the Giants had two darts to throw in the top 10 picks overall. One of their picks was used on a player who doesn't have a clear vision, at least from the outside looking in. The other one of their picks is a guard who was essentially acquired straight-up in a trade for star defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.
The Cowboys have to be loving the way the John Harbaugh era is starting for the Giants.
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