Giants star Malik Nabers puzzled by team selecting Arvell Reese in 2026 NFL Draft

He pointed to Downs as the guy New York should’ve targeted. The Giants recently moved on from defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, which created a void that Nabers felt needed addressing sooner rather than later. In his mind, the secondary took a hit and required immediate attention.

“The reason why I said Caleb Downs…is because we just traded Dex [Dexter Lawrence], you need you need interior D line— I understand getting outside backer he wants to rush OK—but when you eliminate something from there you, have to put something in the back end to be secure,” Nabers added.

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Nabers saw Downs as more than just another safety. He wanted someone who could shift around the field and create problems in multiple ways.

That means dropping into coverage, blitzing off the edge, or matching up against quick backs out of the backfield. The kind of player who adjusts based on what the offense throws at you.

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While Javon Holland brings solid play to the defense, Nabers thought the team still lacked a true playmaker back there. Someone athletic enough to help contain scrambling quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels or cover ground when plays break down.

The flexibility to handle different assignments was the main selling point, and Nabers believed Downs checked every box.