While they ended up with one, the New York Giants didn’t kick off their quarterback search this offseason by chasing a rookie. They started by finding the perfect locker room guy.
Jameis Winston was the first domino, signing a two-year, $8 million deal that injected both experience and personality into a locker room desperate for new energy. Then came Russell Wilson, giving the G-Men two proven veterans to stabilize the room—and setting the table for what came next.
When Big Blue traded back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 pick, it was clear the plan was bigger than just 2025. Dart wasn’t drafted to start right away. He was drafted to learn, develop, and grow into the role behind two veterans who’ve seen just about everything the NFL can throw at a quarterback. The move felt patient. Calculated.
And based on how Dart already sees the situation, it’s even more encouraging than anyone could’ve hoped. And that's awesome for Giants fans.
Jaxson Dart sees the big picture with Jameis Winston and the Giants
During the pre-draft process, Dart took part in a filmed Q&A session where he was asked a simple question: If you could train with any quarterback, past or present, who would it be?
Instead of rattling off the usual names like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or even Giants legend Eli Manning, Dart gave an answer that turned out to be far more telling. He said Jameis Winston. Not because of fame, but because of how much he admired Winston’s work ethic, football intelligence, and leadership. And his words couldn’t have been more perfect:
“I feel like he would be like the best teammate because you hear everybody talk about him—like he’s super football, like intelligent,” Dart said. “And I feel like he’d be a really good guy to learn from.”
It’s the kind of perspective New York fans should be fired up about. Before he ever put on a Giants jersey, Dart already showed he values the exact type of leadership the team brought in to change the locker room. The fact that he named Jameis Winston—of all the quarterbacks he could have picked—is a massive sign that the culture Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are trying to build is resonating with the right players.
Winston’s absolute fire “more giggles, more laughter, more fun” mantra is already starting to reshape the vibe around the team. And now, Big Blue has a rookie quarterback who’s eager to buy into that energy, learn from it, and eventually lead it himself.
It’s a rare kind of alignment between a front office’s vision and a young quarterback’s mentality. And if everything plays out the way it feels like it could, Dart’s answer in that pre-draft clip might end up aging better than anyone could have imagined.