It wasn’t just that the New York Giants took a quarterback. It was how they did it. Instead of reaching at No. 3, general manager Joe Schoen stayed patient, grabbed Abdul Carter, then circled back and made a calculated trade back into the first round to land Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. No panic. No overreach. Just a GM drafting with conviction. And that’s why it feels different this time.
Dart wasn’t a consensus first-round pick, but he was clearly the guy New York wanted. The front office liked his makeup, his mobility, his upside—and, more importantly, his mindset. And with veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston already in the building, the G-Men have the rare luxury of actually developing a rookie quarterback the (presumed) right way.
Tyler Sullivan from CBS Sports captured it perfectly:
“As exciting as Abdul Carter and his injection along a defensive line that already consists of Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence is, what gives New York Giants fans hope is Jaxson Dart. The front office had enough faith in the Ole Miss product to trade back up into the first round of the draft to select him, and he is now the long-term answer at the position.
Of course, it’s a question as to when we’ll actually see Dart with Russell Wilson likely the Week 1 starter, but he provides hope for a brighter tomorrow and heads to New York with a ton of raw skill.”
Jaxson Dart gives the Giants hope for years to come
That’s the shift Giants fans should appreciate most. Dart isn’t being asked to fix the team in Week 1. He’s not being thrown in behind a shaky offensive line or rushed into a leadership role before he’s ready. This isn’t Daniel Jones. This is a kid coming into a layered quarterback room with real structure around him.
He’s got Wilson, who’s been through just about every scenario imaginable in the NFL. He’s got Winston, who Dart himself said he’d love to learn from because of his football intelligence and leadership. He’s got a front office that didn’t settle—and a head coach in Brian Daboll who’s finally been handed a young quarterback he can help mold.
Add in the story of Dart seeking out Charlie Weis for advice on how to grow as a leader, and you start to see the full picture.
This isn’t just about raw arm talent or highlight throws. Dart already carries himself like someone who understands what being a franchise quarterback actually means. That kind of self-awareness isn’t coachable. You either have it or you don’t.
Whether he sees the field this year or not, Dart represents something Big Blue hasn't had in a while: an actual plan at QB. Not a flier. Not a placeholder. A long-term investment with the right... a support system around him.
Let Russ start. Let Jameis back him up. Let Dart develop in the wings. Because if the Giants finally got this one right, it’ll be worth every bit of patience. And for the first time in a minute, that’s a future worth feeling optimistic about.