After taking pass rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Giants still finished Day 1 with a new quarterback. The team traded second- and third-round picks in 2025, plus a 2026 third-round pick to the Houston Texans, to move back into the first round.
But with Shedeur Sanders still on the board, deafening shocked gasps flooded Titletown when Roger Goodell instead announced Jaxson Dart as the team’s pick.
Giants Select Jaxson Dart With 25th Pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
The Giants headed into Day 1 of the NFL Draft with their long-term quarterback future up in the air. While fans were eager to see that issue resolved, the idea of taking a quarterback with the third overall pick made some feel uneasy. The 2025 draft class is believed to be short of top quarterback talent, with a more certain prospect deemed a better option.
The Giants’ front office agreed and selected Carter at No. 3. While it was widely reported that the team could pass on the quarterback early, the decision to pass on Sanders still surprised some, with many believing the player to be a top prospect.
If the Giants surprised some with their first pick, eyebrows were to be raised twice more on Day 1. First, the Giants made a big move to move back into the first round, sending two of their three Day 2 picks to Houston, along with a future third-round pick, in exchange for No. 25.
The trade that landed the @Giants QB Jaxson Dart.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/f6WsbrcTFN
— NFL (@NFL)
That trade put fans on notice, with many wondering when Sanders would finally be taken. Sanders had been expected by many to be a top-10 pick in the draft but had watched from home as team after team passed on him. He would continue to wait, though, as Goodell announced that the Giants had selected Dart instead.
JAXSON DART 🎯🎯🎯
📰: https://t.co/526S9dD1Nz pic.twitter.com/jd7nnuBZZq
— New York Giants (@Giants)
What Does Dart Bring to New York?
The Giants have both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to handle quarterback duties in 2025, but Wilson is a free agent next year. Dart was always likely to find himself in a backup role come September, but New York’s decision to take him in the first round suggests they’ll be expecting him to contribute in a year or two.
Dart’s athleticism and arm talent give him a solid base on which to build an NFL-ready skillset, and he now has a Super Bowl champion to learn from in Wilson. Dart’s PFSN Draft Profile highlights the player’s strengths, as well as the areas he’ll need to address.
“The Lane Kiffin offense at Ole Miss is one that consistently insulates QB production, and Jaxson Dart is the latest to ascend within it. His numbers improved year-over-year in college, culminating with 4,279 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024.
“Now, Dart has some fringe first-round hype in the 2025 NFL Draft cycle. Looking at the physical profile, it’s easy to see why. At 6’2″, 223 pounds, he has good size, great athleticism, and toughness, plus a loose, elastic arm that can layer throws. The big question is exactly how translatable his game is to the pros.
“There are flashes of window anticipation on film, but NFL progression work is scant, and he often drops his eyes under pressure. Starter potential is there, but he has work to do before he harnesses it.”
If you’d have offered Giants fans a blue-chip prospect and a quarterback at the beginning of Day 1, they’d have bitten your hand off and headed home. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll remain under pressure, but the pair can feel pretty good about their draft business so far.
