The NFL never sleeps, and neither do the questions. The 2025 NFL Draft might already feel like a relic thanks to the chaos of schedule release season, but that hasn’t stopped New York Giants fans from still picking apart the biggest move of the offseason—trading up for quarterback Jaxson Dart.
The New York Giants went all-in to land Dart at No. 25, making a bold play that many assumed had head coach Brian Daboll’s fingerprints all over it. It made sense—Daboll’s reputation as a QB developer isn’t exactly subtle, and the pairing felt too on-brand to be coincidental.
Well, Kay Adams didn’t dance around it during her Up & Adams interview with general manager Joe Schoen. She asked what we were all thinking: Who—if anyone—was doing the bidding for Jaxson Dart internally... and why was it Daboll?
Joe Schoen clarifies Giants’ decision to draft Jaxson Dart
Adams put Schoen on the spot and asked him if he wanted everyone to believe Dart was "Daboll's guy." Here’s how Schoen answered:
“This was an organizational decision—any player we take is a collaborative process. It’s very detailed, and we believe in it," Schoen said.
He continued by saying: “Jaxson’s a guy that was on the radar throughout the fall. We were able to see him play live and spend a lot of time with him at the Senior Bowl as well this spring. It helps when the head coach has an offensive background and has a history of developing quarterbacks.”
“Three coaches on staff have been part of the development of two pretty good quarterbacks in the league right now, and when they’re convicted on a player and the scouting staff is convicted on a player, typically you have the best chance for success in those situations.”
So, no, Schoen didn’t outright stamp Dart as “Daboll’s guy,” but he didn’t need to. The message was clear: this wasn’t one man’s pet project—it was a top-down, full-room decision backed by drafting with conviction. And that’s the only thing Giants fans should care about.
Because if this season turns ugly (and with the NFL’s toughest schedule, it might), it’s going to matter that everyone was in on Dart from the start. This can’t be a “Daboll wanted him” or “Schoen pushed it” kind of split decision. If Dart eventually hits, it’s a collective win and an enormous sigh of relief. If he doesn’t, well... everyone shares that, too (likely in the unemployment line).
For now, Big Blue Nation should feel good with “collaborative process.” As long as that process leads to wins—and not another lost decade—it’s the right answer.