Nabers was part of Bleacher Report'sNFL draft livestream, reacting to each pick as it came in. With the Giants owning two selections in the first 10 picks of the draft, Big Blue's star wideout had two chances to react to his team's picks early – and he didn't seem enthused by either choice.
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If anything, Nabers' reaction to both picks – Ohio State linebacker/edge rusherArvell Reeseat No. 5 overall andMiami(Fla.) offensive linemanFrancis Mauigoaat No. 10 – showed signs of disappointment and confusion.
Nabers' icy reaction to the Giants' two top 10 picks only got chillier when theDallas Cowboysselected safetyCaleb Downs, a player the wideout had hoped would be one of his new teammates. The third-year receiver was visibly upset to see Dallas trade up to the No. 11 pick – the selection right after the Giants' second first-round pick – and take a top-rated defender that he'll now have to face twice per year.
Here's a closer look at Nabers' reaction to the No. 5, No. 10 and No. 11 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft:
1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The first round of the2026 NFL Draftbrings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.
See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals − RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Tennessee Titans − WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
New York Giants − LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns) − CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Washington Commanders − LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints − WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs) − OL Spencer Fano, Utah
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals) − OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins) − S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys) − OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) − QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens − G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers − DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) − TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Detroit Lions − OT Blake Miller, Clemson
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Minnesota Vikings − DL Caleb Banks, Florida
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Carolina Panthers − OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay Packers via Cowboys) − WR Makai Lemon, USC
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Pittsburgh Steelers − OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers − DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Cowboys (from Eagles) − DE Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida
When New York selected Reese with the No. 5 pick, Nabers' immediate reaction was to shrug.
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After a brief moment of analysis from Bleacher Report's Trevor Sikkema, Nabers was asked directly how he felt about his new teammate.
"I love the player, don't get me wrong, I love the player," Nabers said. "But ... where do you play? You want to be on the outside and rush, but we just drafted somebody last year (2025 No. 3 overall pickAbdul Carter) to do that same position."
The wideout went on to say he hoped the Giants drafted Downs, Ohio State's safety, with their next pick. Nabers cited New York's decision to trade defensive tackleDexter Lawrenceas one of the primary reasons the team needed to add help in the secondary.
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"When you eliminate something from there (the defensive front), you have to put something in the back end (secondary) to be secure," Nabers said.
Nabers' expression did not change immediately after Bleacher Report's livestream revealed the Giants picked Mauigoa, an offensive lineman, with the No. 10 overall pick.
"I'd rather get (Caleb) Downs than play against Downs," Nabers said. "That's all I'm saying.
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"(Giants quarterback) Jaxson [Dart] did mention that he wanted an offensive lineman in this draft. But is [Mauigoa] going to play inside? We just paid (right tackle Jermaine) Eluemunor, we got [Andrew Thomas] on the left side. Okay, so he has to play guard, but a lot of his film at Miami is not guard."
After Sikkema said he envisioned Mauigoa playing guard in the short-term, Nabers compared that situation to Giants 2022 first-rounderEvan Neal, a tackle the team has since converted to guard.
Asked specifically why he appeared disappointed with the Giants' pick at 10, Nabers said he believed New York should have drafted Downs since they could have taken a guard later on in the draft.
"We could've got the playmaker now. We need another playmaker in the deep zone," Nabers said before elaborating that Downs' versatility could have been a valuable asset for Big Blue's defense.
Malik Nabers reacts to Cowboys drafting Caleb Downs
With Nabers' heart apparently set on the Giants drafting Downs, his disappointment reached its zenith when the Ohio State safety instead landed with a division rival – and one pick after New York's second first-round selection.
When Downs' name showed up as Dallas' pick, Nabers exclaimed loudly and stood up from the couch.
"I'd rather get him thanplay against him," Nabers said, re-emphasizing what he had said one pick prior.
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"I gotta play against this thing again. Bro, he's good. He's very good," Nabers said. "He'sverygood. Bro, he's very good.
"He's everywhere. Like, you see him on tape, he's lining up nickel, safety, blitzing off the edge, lined up inside. He's everywhere. That's a guy you need for that defense."
