Malik Nabers laments Giants passing on Caleb Downs, who lands with rival Cowboys
NEW YORK — Malik Nabers questioned the New York Giants’ selection of Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 overall on a Thursday night draft show and expressed disappointment that they passed twice on Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs, letting him fall to the rival Dallas Cowboys at No. 11.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the player, but where do you play [him]? ” Nabers said on Bleacher Report’s live show when the Giants picked Reese. “You want to be on the outside of the rush, but we just drafted somebody last year [Abdul Carter] to do that same position.
The reason I say [take] Caleb Downs is you have to get them when they’re available. It’s not saying, ‘ He’s gonna be there at 10. ’ Nabers said the Dexter Lawrence trade created a hole in the Giants‘ defense that he doesn’t believe Reese fills.
“Because you just traded Dex, you need interior D-line,” the wide receiver said. “I understand getting outside backer, he wants to rush, OK cool. But when you eliminate something from there, you have to put something in the back end.
” The Giants picked Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 overall. Then Nabers showed the most emotion when the Cowboys traded up to No.