Giants stun NFL Draft 2025 with aggressive move for Jaxson Dart

After another forgettable season in New York, the Giants faced a franchise-defining moment heading into the NFL Draft 2025. With head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen clinging to their roles, all eyes were on what the front office would do with a top-three pick and no clear quarterback of the future. Pressure from ownership was mounting and time was running out.


Entering the NFL Draft 2025, the Giants were stuck in a dilemma. Sitting at No. 3 overall, they needed a quarterback but weren’t willing to gamble on one that high. Instead, they played it smart by selecting dynamic pass-rusher Abdul Carter, a move that bolstered their defense without overreaching for a signal-caller. But New York wasn’t done.
Late in the first round, the Giants made a surprising trade, sending multiple picks, including their second- and third-rounders this year to the Texans to jump back in at No. 25 with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart as their target.
Dart may not have the instant star power of other names passed over like Shedeur Sanders but he brings a blend of toughness, mobility, and playmaking instincts that Daboll believes he can mold. It’s a clear development project, and the Giants are buying time with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as short-term stopgaps.

The Giants’ draft strategy was less about flashy headlines and more about building a foundation. Abdul Carter could end up being the cornerstone of the defense, and Dart, given the right timeline, could evolve into something special. But it’s a swing-for-the-fences kind of gamble.
Honestly, passing on Sanders might haunt them. But in a draft year where QB value was sparse, New York bet on fit and upside over hype. That decision could be a career-saver or the final nail in the coffin for Daboll and Schoen.
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Still, this was the most aggressive and focused the Giants have looked in years during the draft. If progress shows up on the field, even in flashes, by the end of the season, it might just be enough to keep the current regime intact.
Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but the NFL Draft 2025 will be remembered as the year the Giants put everything on the line.