Brian Daboll's affinity for Jaxson Dart is demonstrable and unmistakable, and it has permeated through the New York Giants fan base. The team's head coach and supporters have rallied behind their rookie quarterback, who's quickly established himself as the franchise's identity.
Dart's swagger and moxie have been emblematic of the city he represents, bringing the energy New York football has sorely lacked for years. Moreover, his effectiveness has been conducive to winning and brought optimism to Big Blue Nation.
But what if we told you an alternate universe in which Dart, Daboll and New York never even cross paths exists? This other realm is floating somewhere in the ether and would've been reality if general manager Joe Schoen had his way. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer rehashed the Giants' infatuation with New England Patriots second-year signal-caller Drake Maye during a recent appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Giants' pursuit of Drake Maye nearly stripped New York of Jaxson Dart frenzy
Breer talked about how the Giants and Minnesota Vikings pushed to move up and take Maye No. 3 overall in last year's draft. They each made strong offers to the Patriots, including multiple outgoing first-round picks, though New England ultimately stood pat and the rest is history.
The Patriots called Maye's name, and he's blossomed into one of the best young passers in the NFL. But that wasn't before Schoen tried giving them the No. 6 selection, the Giants' 2025 first-rounder and a third-round choice, AKA no Dart.
New York packaged second- and third-round picks in a deal with the Houston Texans to land Dart at No. 25 this past offseason. The latter asset was presumably the one that was on the table for Maye, if not the No. 65 overall pick, which turned into rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander. Yet, somehow, that's only the tip of the iceberg for the G-Men.
Schoen dangled the No. 3 pick that netted the G-Men former Penn State standout Abdul Carter in his pursuit of Maye. While the thrower is the most important position, those who can disrupt and take them down are equally vital. If New York's top decision-maker got his wish, the organization would've lost two of the league's best pass rushers.
In March 2024, the Giants sent a second-round pick to the Carolina Panthers to acquire star edge defender Brian Burns. So, New York could've been without its first two selections last year! Yet, on top of that, a Day 1 resource that became a highly touted prospect and Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite in Carter vanishes.
Of course, this is all hypothetical and the Giants' once-preferred path would've landed them Maye, who's climbing up the MVP ladder this season. Nevertheless, the budding signal-caller isn't in the same position to succeed in this scenario, especially without Burns and Carter. Above all, New York doesn't get to experience the Dart hysteria.