After a brutal 3-14 season that redefined rock bottom, the New York Giants walked into the 2025 NFL Draft with one mission: add talented, cornerstone players. They did just that by landing Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall, then swinging a gutsy trade with the Houston Texans to move back into the first round at No. 25 for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart wasn’t expected to be a Day 1 starter—head coach Brian Daboll made that clear by declaring Russell Wilson the starter minutes after the pick. Veteran Jameis Winston is also on board as QB2. The plan for Dart is patience. Development. A slow ramp-up behind two guys who’ve seen just about everything the NFL can throw at a quarterback.
But while Dart waits his turn, he’s also being handed something no Giants rookie quarterback has had in a long time: a legitimate WR1. Malik Nabers, the former No. 6 overall pick, just broke every rookie receiving record the Giants had last season—and he did it with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito throwing him the ball.
Dart could be the piece that finally unlocks the Giants' and Nabers’ full potential. And it’s not just the fans who are buying into the hype.
Lane Kiffin sees something special in the Jaxson Dart-Malik Nabers duo
Dart’s former college head coach, Lane Kiffin, thinks the pairing of Dart and Nabers could be something New York hasn’t seen in years. He spoke to the New York Post about what he expects out of the duo:
“I think he’ll work so hard from Day 1 with him [Malik Nabers], and he’ll fly to wherever he is in the offseason to work with him and get down their throws and timing and everything,” Kiffin told The New York Post. “They’ll be an amazing pair for a long time to come.”
That’s a proud coach who watched Dart grow into a first-rounder calling his shot. And based on what Nabers did as a rookie—109 receptions, 1,204 yards, seven touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl nod—there’s every reason to think their connection could hit fast, especially with the head start this offseason.
But Kiffin didn’t stop the praise train there.
“I think he’ll [Dart] do well,” he added. “I think ’cause he’s really genuine. What you see is what you get and you’ll really like him. I know you guys are tough at times, but I think he’ll do really well.”
New York isn’t for everyone. The media is relentless, the expectations are (sometimes) unfair, and the margin for error is very slim. But Kiffin knows Dart. And if Giants fans take anything away from his former coach, it should be this:
“He’s a winner—he’s a winner in life, and he’s a winner on the field,” Kiffin said. “He’s gonna always rise to the top.”
So if you find yourself still wondering whether Dart was the right pick, here’s what you’ve got: a quarterback with legit arm talent, toughness, and the deep-ball chops to maximize Malik Nabers.
And maybe the most reassuring part? The last quarterback from Ole Miss to make it big in New York now wants to buy a piece of the team. Eli Manning might not be just watching from the sidelines anymore — he sees something worth investing in. That should tell you everything.