The New York Giants have been trying for years to find the quarterback to replace Eli Manning — and they’re hoping they found their guy in Jaxson Dart, taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Giants traded back into the first round to select Dart with the 25th overall pick.
What Will the New York Giants Expect From Jaxson Dart in 2025?
The Giants shared a video of Dart reacting to a message from Manning, congratulating him and preparing him for life with the franchise with which Manning spent his entire career.
From one former Ole Miss QB to another: Eli Manning welcomes Jaxson Dart to the Giants. pic.twitter.com/UIj2Fix9Vc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Dart played well in 2024 for the Ole Miss Rebels, boosting his draft stock. He completed 276 of 398 passes (69.3%) for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also added 124 rushing attempts for 495 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and three rushing touchdowns.
Jaxson Dart elevated himself to be the second quarterback selected in the draft and now joins a Giants quarterback room that’s suddenly pretty crowded.
Right now, Russell Wilson is projected to be the starting quarterback for the season, with Jameis Winston penciled in as the backup. Dart is expected to use 2025 as more of a redshirt season, learning behind two veterans and adjusting to the NFL’s speed.
The Giants needed to add stability at the position after disastrous quarterback play and poor injury luck contributed to the team’s bottom-of-the-division finish. They won just four games in 2024, a decline even from the modest six wins they managed in 2023.
There’s a chance Dart could push Winston and Wilson for the starting spot, but unless injuries or struggles hit, he’s not expected to see much of the field in his rookie year.
After the pick, Giants head coach Brian Daboll talked about what drew him to Dart.
“I like the way he plays. I like his competitive fire. I like his accuracy. I like his ability to push the ball down the field and his athletic ability to run with the football.
“I think this guy’s got better every year he’s played. He’s a leader. He was smart. He has the attributes that we were looking for. Excited to have him. Look forward to getting him in the room. He’s got a lot to learn. It’ll be a process here with him, but he’s a guy we look forward to working with.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the Giants develop Dart during his rookie season — and how soon he might be ready to take the field.
