The New York Giants didn’t just win the first round—they stole it.
After grabbing Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick, a move that finally gave them their Micah Parsons do-over, Joe Schoen doubled down. The Giants traded back into Round 1 with the Houston Texans for the 25th pick—sending picks 34, 99, and a future third—to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. One blue-chip defender. One high-upside quarterback. One perfect first round.
And here’s the kicker: Shedeur Sanders was still on the board. That’s how much conviction the Giants had in Dart. And honestly, that’s the most encouraging part. They didn’t reach for a quarterback at three. They didn’t panic. They worked the board, trusted their evals, and came away with their guy.
Giants double down and still don’t overreach
Make no mistake—Jaxson Dart wasn’t a consensus first-round pick. He’s raw. He’s inconsistent. But he’s also got a cannon, legitimate touch down the field, and throws absolute darts into tight windows (no pun intended). And with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster, Dart won’t need to be the guy right away. He’ll sit, learn, develop, and then take over when he’s ready.
This was the exact plan the Giants laid out when they brought in Wilson and Winston. And tonight, they executed it to perfection. Dart may not have the polish of Cam Ward or the pedigree of Sanders, but he fits what Brian Daboll wants: toughness, mobility, and the ability to push the ball vertically. He can be the engine of a real offense one day.
And let’s not ignore the narrative twist here. After all the “Carson Schoen might be the real GM” jokes, maybe there’s something to it. The kid posted Dart highlights the night before the draft, then went private on Instagram. Less than 24 hours later, Big Blue makes the move. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe Carson’s two-for-two on seeing what the rest of the league misses.
Either way, the Giants leave Round 1 with the best pass rusher in the class and their quarterback of the future. No one knew it would play out like this, but now that it has, it feels glorious. The kind of glorious you only get when the front office finally shows signs of competence.