Almost immediately after the New York Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to grab Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at pick No. 25, some wondered if Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll could eventually play Dart ahead of schedule in an attempt to save their jobs.
For a piece published Friday, one unnamed team executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic why the Giants should sit Dart behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston for as long as possible.
"Some people think Dart is a year away, more of a project," that executive said. "They probably shouldn’t play him at all this year, or not until very late."
Schoen insisted during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he wants Dart "to learn and sit behind two consummate pros" for the foreseeable future. That said, Schoen also said that Dart will have "to go out and execute" if his number is called, which could lead one to believe the prospect, who turns 22 on May 13, could see some meaningful in-game action as a rookie.
For a different article posted on April 22, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero shared that one AFC scout felt ahead of the draft that Dart has "some lack of maturity to his game." Meanwhile, an AFC executive told Pelissero that Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin's offense makes things "very simple" for a quarterback and helped Dart succeed in college.
Despite such takes, the Giants sent 2025 draft picks No. 34 and No. 99 along with a 2026 third-round selection to the Houston Texans for the right to select Dart. Earlier in the night, Schoen made Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter the draft's third pick. Some viewed Carter as the best overall player in this year's class.
"They had conviction and confidence, and then they had the execution as well," a different executive said about the Giants' draft. "So, you have to give them credit. They had a good draft. Whether it all comes together, who knows?"
The Athletic's Austin Mock gave Schoen an "A+" grade for his draft haul based on "a composite score of player value, positional value and trade value." Letting Dart develop as an unused backup through the 2025 season could ensure that Schoen and Co. look back fondly on this year's draft class years.
