Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was viewed by many as not only the best defensive player in this class but the best overall of the 257 who will have ultimately heard their name called when Round 7 comes to a close on Saturday evening in Pittsburgh.
Now, with the Dallas Cowboys entering Thursday's first round at No. 12 overall, it was seemingly going to take a big trade for them to be in a position to take the 21-year-old. But as the top 10 progressed, things started to change.
The New York Giants had a shot at No. 5 but opted for another Buckeye in edge rusher Arvell Reese. The Cowboys then watched a couple of their top targets go off the board, as the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to grab cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6, and the Washington Commanders followed up with another Ohio State star in linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7.
After the New Orleans Saints took Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 and the Cleveland Browns took Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9, the Giants went back on the clock at No. 10, ultimately choosing Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. And it was at that point that the Cowboys made their move, making a trade with the Miami Dolphins to jump up one spot to No. 11, where they flat-out stole Downs.
Among the millions upon millions watching things unfold was Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, who knows all about going off the board early, as he was taken sixth overall by Big Blue in 2024.
Nabers watched things unfold on Thursday night by taking part in Bleacher Report's livestream, and it became an extremely interesting situation, as he really didn't seem all that enthusiastic with either of the Giants' two top-10 picks, almost acting icy when Reese and Mauigoa were selected. And as you can see in the video below, the situation hilariously escalated when he heard Downs was going to Dallas.
Malik Nabers' reaction to the Cowboys trading up and drafting Caleb Downs 👀 pic.twitter.com/dgyuC2ocJ5
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2026
Malik Nabers is devastated that the Dallas Cowboys drafted Caleb Downs
For those who scrolled past, as soon as the selection was revealed, Nabers, who was joined by none other than Micah Parsons, by the way, literally got up off the couch and threw his arms up in disgust. And when he sat back down, the first words out of his mouth were, "I'd rather get him than play against him."
When a wideout as talented as Nabers says something to that effect, that pretty much tells you all you need to know about how Downs is already seen among NFL talent.
Host Trevor Sikkema quickly threw salt in the wound, saying, "And the fact that it's the very next pick. Like, you guys were up on the clock."
Nabers then jumped back in and seemingly spread the news that he and Downs had talked before the draft, saying, "I even told him, I said 'I'm coming to get you.'" Sikkema then just straight-up asked him how he was feeling now that Downs is with the Cowboys, and Nabers let out a deep sigh before responding, "I gotta play against this thing again. Bro, he's good. He's very good. He's VERY good. Bro, he's very good. I had him No. 1, he's very good."
So, what I think Nabers is trying to say is that Downs is very good. I could be wrong on that, but that's the impression I'm getting. All kidding aside, Nabers is absolutely right in his assessment. Downs is unquestionably a phenomenal talent, and he'll now be tasked with helping a Dallas secondary that was easily one of the absolute worst in the NFL this past season.
And Nabers certainly took advantage of that before his season abruptly ended when he tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 4, catching nine passes for 167 yards and two touchdown in that wild Week 2 battle between the Cowboys and Giants that Dallas ultimately won in overtime by a score of 40-37.
Downs will naturally be hoping that his new rival doesn't find that same kind of success when the two teams clash in 2026.
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