
Chris Perkins: Dolphinsâ rebuild might have hit a speed bump in the draft
Dolphins' draft decisions spark fan frustration over local talent
Giants' Malik Nabers faces criticism for his reaction to the Cowboys selecting Caleb Downs in the NFL Draft. Nabers expressed a preference for having Downs on his team rather than facing him as an opponent.
Giants' Malik Nabers under fire for reaction to Cowboys' Caleb Downs selection originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While many immediately focus on the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giantsâ on-field battles when thinking about their storied rivalry, the two NFC East franchises also enjoy competing in every aspect of football.
One of those aspects is the ongoing NFL Draft, as securing the services of the best available prospects is a priority for both organizations. On the first night of the draft, fans witnessed the Giants pass on former Ohio State star safety Caleb Downs and select ex-Miami standout offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa with the No. 10 overall pick.
The Cowboys pounced on Downs with the following pick, which didnât sit well with Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.
âIâd rather get him than play against him,â Nabers said while watching the draft alongside Green Bay Packer star edge rusher Micah Parsons. âI even told him, Iâm going to come and get you. I gotta play against this thing again. Heâs very good. Heâs very good, we all got him No. 1. Heâs very good.â
Malik Nabers stated, 'Iâd rather get him than play against him,' indicating his respect for Downs' skills.
Nabers' comments were criticized as they seemed to undermine the Giants' decision to pass on Downs during the draft.
The Giants chose offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa with the No. 10 pick, passing on Caleb Downs, who was selected by the Cowboys immediately after.

Dolphins' draft decisions spark fan frustration over local talent
The Jets have selected Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq with the 16th pick in the NFL Draft.
Macklin Celebrini writes to Sharks fans; Wallenius loaned to Barracuda
Brighton dominates Chelsea 3-0, matching worst performance in history.
Donovan Mitchell tells Cavaliers not to overreact after Game 3 loss to Raptors.
Steelers miss out on Makai Lemon, highlighting franchise struggles.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Unsurprisingly, Nabers was met with criticism over his controversial reaction to the Cowboysâ early-draft decision.
âWR1 pitching a fit over a player who hasnât taken a single snap in the pros,â one user wrote under Bleacher Reportâs X/Twitter post about the situation. Good look.â
âI WOULD NEVER give someone the satisfaction of letting them EVEN THINK I'm âscared; of going against them,â another user stated. Where's the mental toughness/pride?â
Itâs reasonable to assume Nabersâ genuine comments stem from his familiarity with Downsâ skill set. Nabers, who played against Downs at the collegiate level in 2023-24 (LSU vs. Alabama), is fully aware that Downs is a high-IQ safety and well-rounded safety who can pitch in against the run, tackle at an elite level, match up well against tight ends, and remain disciplined by any means necessary.
Downs ended his college career with 256 tackles, 10 penalties drawn, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and six interceptions. The 21-year-old is set to wreak havoc in the pros for years to come, and Nabers knows it.
Still, the 6-foot wideout probably should have kept his thoughts about Downs to himself, considering it appeared as though itâs never wise to express fear while discussing a matchup with any opponent.
More NFL: