The New York Giants selected the best player on the board when they were on the clock at No. 5 during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night.
Almost every expert to a man chimed in about the steal the Giants had just gotten in Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. But that wasn’t how their star wide receiver, Malik Nabers, saw things, though. He wanted the team to take Reese’s teammate, safety Caleb Downs.
Nabers was appearing on a Bleacher Report livestream and was clearly shocked and upset when the Giants selected Reese over Downs.
Although Nabers’ question was a legitimate one, it was unprofessional for him to criticize the team publicly. The matter was cleared up shortly after when Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that Reese would start at inside linebacker. He has a position after all.
Nabers wore his emotions on his sleeve again when the Giants passed on Downs at No. 10, selecting Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa. To add to Nabers’ misery, the rival Dallas Cowboys traded up to take Downs at No. 11.
“I’d rather get him than play against him. Oh my God,” said Nabers. “And the fact that it’s like the very next pick, like you guys were up on the clock. I even told him, I said, ‘I’m coming to get you.’
“I gotta play against this thing again. He’s doing a thing. He’s so good. He’s a — oh, he’s good, but he’s, he’s very good. He’s very good. I’m — bro, he’s very good. We all got him number 1. He’s very good.”
Nabers likely received a prompt phone call for his emotional reactions and comments because he sprang to social media in damage control mode.
Unfortunately for Nabers, the Internet is forever.
But the reaction among Giants fans has been quite mixed. Some are frustrated with Nabers’ commentary, wishing he would think more before he speaks, while others feel his stance was valid. The Giants obviously disagreed with the latter, as his social media commentary hints at a quick phone call from the team’s public relations department.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Malik Nabers enters damage control mode after viral draft video
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
