The New York Giants are heading into the home stretch of another lost season, but optimism is in the air in East Rutherford as the fanbase’s love for quarterback Jaxson Dart grows.
However, at least one NFL analyst believes the Giants should trade Dart to improve their roster while drafting a new quarterback.
What Did One NFL Analyst Say the Giants Should Do With Jaxson Dart?
Dart, a rookie quarterback, has shown promise, and a new head coach could usher in a new era of Giants football. His performance has earned him the love of his fanbase. But turnover at head coach (and potentially general manager) could change the organization’s tune, especially as it barrels toward a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
A constant theme of Dart’s rookie season has been concerns about durability. Dart is happy to extend plays out of structure, often taking hits at the end of scrambles or designed runs. He’s earning loyalty points in the blue medical tent and has been checked for concussions five times, albeit with only one diagnosis.
The concerns are well-intentioned, but it may simply be the cost of doing business with Dart under center. As a result, there has been some speculation about New York’s opportunity to pivot off Dart, capitalizing on his early success before the injury situation worsens.
On “The Colin Cowherd Podcast,” Cowherd revealed that he would trade Dart and take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“The New York Giants right now would have the No. 1 pick,” Cowherd began. “You trade Jaxson Dart. You take the 6’5.5″ Fernando Mendoza absolutely. I think Mendoza is about as good a prospect as you’re going to get.”
“Giants should trade Jaxson Dart and draft Fernando Mendoza with #1 pick”@colincowherd on what New York should do if they have #1 pick in 2026 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/lrd8ZO7iBk
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) December 18, 2025
Mendoza entered the year with first-round hype and made good on the excitement by winning the Heisman Trophy and securing the Hoosiers’ spot in the College Football Playoff. He led the Big Ten in touchdowns (33) and yards per attempt (9.4).
His first season in Bloomington has gone better than anyone could have hoped, capping off a college career that has generated 63 total touchdowns between Cal and Indiana.
Cowherd suggested that Mendoza is incredibly pro-ready, arguing that he’s a can’t-miss prospect who should acclimate quickly to the NFL game.
“I talked to an NFL coach about him…He said he’s also such an easy player to scout because Indiana runs pro concepts,” Cowherd said. “So you will know, watching his college film, the throws he can and cannot make. His take was ‘easy guy to comp.’ These Big 12 guys like Mahomes, you knew he was talented, but you’re like, ‘What in the hell is that offense?’
“It’s one day of watching the film, you’re like ‘Oh yeah, he can make that throw, that throw, that throw, that throw. He audibled out of that throw.’ He’s the easiest guy to scout ever.”
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Mendoza has made his case to be the top pick come April, and he’s the favorite to do so, even if it requires a trade down from a team like New York. The Giants, meanwhile, should have the conversation that sounds outlandish to the fanbase waiting for a franchise quarterback.
It’s the front office’s job to explore every reasonable option. If the new regime likes Mendoza more and feels Dart would return a haul, perhaps a trade comes to fruition. The far more likely option is that Dart has done enough to secure additional opportunities in East Rutherford, especially with Malik Nabers returning and a potential haul of picks to make life easier.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that these are humans making the decision. In a vacuum, maybe Mendoza and a quality return for Dart offers enough surplus value to justify a trade. They would still have to pull the trigger on a move that would get everyone fired if it went sideways, especially if Dart found success elsewhere.
Despite playing with a below-average receiving corps and multiple head coaches, Dart ranks 19th in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric. His out-of-structure flashes have been exciting, and New York’s offense is better than its 2-12 record would suggest.
There are real concerns in his profile, enough to warrant an extended look at Mendoza. Even so, there’s little reason to expect the Giants to shock the world ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
