The New York Giants are having a brutal 24 hours. Facing off against the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a left knee injury after a collision with two defenders. Dart limped off of the field under his own power, but was eventually ruled out ofr the remainder of the game. The initial prognosis was that Dart suffered an MCL sprain and that he won't miss too much time. The Giants were optimistic of that, saying that Dart "is going to be okay."
But on Tuesday afternoon, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that Dart's injury is "worse than expected" and that he could miss the entirety of the season. On Wednesday, Giants fans' worst fears were expected, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Dart is undergoing season ending surgery, as he suffered full tears of his meniscus and MCL, while partially tearing his PCL. With this news, the Giants' chances of contending this season just took a massive hit.
Dart has shown that when he's healthy, he makes the offense more electric. The thing is, two years into his career, Dart has been anything but healthy. If the Giants go in a downward trajectory and end up with a high draft pick in the first round, it does raise the question — could they draft a quarterback?
Jaxson Dart's injury history raises questions about Giants future
The Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Dart, who was the quarterback then-head coach Brian Daboll wanted on his roster. He showed promise as a rookie, but he had difficulty staying out of the medical tent. Granted, it had to do with his style of play, where he wouldn't stray away from taking big hits when running downfield. He did miss two games last year after suffering a concussion against the Chicago Bears.
Let's not forget that in the team's preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Dart took a massive hit when getting sacked, where he was evaluated for a concussion. He would ultimately return to that game.
But now, Dart is dealing with a knee injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season. This didn't happen on a scramble or anything reckless. He attempted a pass while facing pressure from defenders on both sides, and it resulted in his left knee getting hit in an awkward manner, which ultimately tore multiple ligaments in his left knee.
Even if this was a freak injury, it goes to show that the Giants may have a difficult decision to make when it comes to Dart and whether or not he can be a feasible option under center for the Giants for the foreseeable future.
If Giants end up with high draft pick in 2027, does John Harbaugh select Jaxson Dart's replacement?
With Dart out for the season, the Giants' chances of contending for a playoff spot shrink, and their odds of landing a high pick in the first-round of the 2027 draft increase. If the latter becomes the reality, would the Giants consider taking a quarterback?
Well, it's well known that a new head coach would prefer to have their own quarterback on the roster. Head coach John Harbaugh was brought in, and Dart was one of the selling points as to why he took the Giants job. But, considering that Dart has only played in 13 games in his first two years is something that should have the Giants thinking. Can they trust Dart to stay healthy for a full season? It's obvious that Harbaugh was hired and that he took the job to help get back to the Super Bowl in due time. But, can Dart be the quarterback that can help them reach that point?
Plus, there is the fact that the 2027 quarterback draft class is much deeper than last year. If the Giants finish near the bottom of the league standings, that could see them in position to take either Oregon's Dante Moore or Texas' Arch Manning. Just imagine if the Giants were in position to draft Eli Manning's nephew, who has been touted as the next great quarterback prospect dating back to his high school playing days. Would the Giants pass on the chance to bring in another Manning to play quarterback?
It's still incredibly early to have this conversation, yes. But given that Dart is once again dealing with another injury, it is a topic that the Giants have to discuss in the coming months, especially as the team continues to be built in Harbaugh's image.
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