Nearly three months ago, the New York Giants made their most daring bet in a half-decade.
With Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s jobs hanging in the balance, a swing for the fences was needed to buy the regime time to turn the franchise around. Their recent moves had induced optimism, but John Mara was clearly (and rightfully) displeased with the G-Men’s consecutive underwhelming seasons and quarterback instability.
That move? Trading up with the Houston Texans on night one of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart. Big Blue parted with the No. 34 pick and two third-round picks to select a guy they clearly believe in— even if there is work that needs to be done.
After six seasons of Daniel Jones, Daboll and Schoen finally got to select a QB of their own. It’s clear to say that isn’t a reclamation project; they truly believe in him to the point where they feel comfortable betting the house on him over a player like Shedeur Sanders or Tyler Shough.
Even after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the Big Apple has been searching for a player for the city and fanbase to rally behind since Eli Manning retired. And Dart has the moxie, and competitive spirit to be that player.
Both NFL vets can serve as mentors and bridge quarterbacks until the 22-year-old is deemed ready for NFL action— which could happen at any moment.
The front office is hedging their reputations (and futures) on Jaxson Dart panning out
While the plan has been to let Dart develop, the growing pressure could see him take the field earlier than expected should Wilson falter or the season go awry. But lucky for Giants fans, he has already turned heads at rookie minicamp, yet opinions are divided on when to expect him to start.
The Giants play in a loaded NFC East, the fanbase is impatient, and ownership expects results. So this entire season— whether Dart plays or not– could dictate both Daboll and Schoen’s futures in New York.
When grading the offseasons of teams across the NFL, ESPN’s Seth Walder gave the Giants a respectable “B”. While signing Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland helped bolster the defense, it was their bold decision in moving up for the Utah native that stood out.
“This was a risk well worth taking,” Walder wrote. “Dart might not work out, but the Giants gave themselves a chance to find a franchise quarterback.”
More importantly, he fits what Daboll wants to build. The All-SEC quarterback threw for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior and has a similar skill set to another quarterback Daboll helped mold into a superstar in Josh Allen.
He needs to clean up his footwork, quicken his reads, and improve consistency under pressure, but his raw tools and natural arm talent caught the attention of scouts across the league. The big concern with the 22-year-old is that he’s a project, since Lane Kiffin’s offensive system is not the best at preparing QB’s for the NFL.
Yet he still impressed enough to be selected No. 25 overall, and for a team to move up nine picks to obtain him.
The Giants haven’t had a true franchise quarterback since Manning’s final years, and Schoen and Daboll know that without one, nothing else really matters. It’s called the most important position in sports for a reason, and it’s hard to stay afloat in the NFL without a QB1.
Yes, there’s rawness, but also real upside, which is making for the most intriguing Giants season since Manning’s rookie season.
Think about how Broncos fans feel. Bo Nix was a polarizing prospect who made his NFL debut at 25, yet reached the playoffs as a rookie because he was set up for success in Sean Payton’s scheme.
Dart could follow a similar trajectory in New York, and if he does, fans will be all in on this regime and the return of Giants football.