New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart may have just lit a fire under Colorado fans with his recent comments that seemed to subtly criticize Shedeur Sanders’ work ethic and preparation—without ever mentioning his name.
In a post-draft interview from Sports Illustrated, Dart reflected on his intense pre-draft meetings with Giants head coach Brian Daboll, saying, “Yeah, you better be prepared going to do a Daboll meeting, because it’s intense. He definitely wants to get the most out of you. I would say, if you're not prepared, don't step into the meeting, because you're going to get grilled...So they threw all that they could at me, and I was able to handle it the best way that I could.”
WOW#GIANTS QB JAXSON DART TAKES A SUBTLE SHOT AT SHEDEUR SANDERS OVER HIS PREPARATION.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 21, 2025
“You better be prepared going into a Daboll meeting because it's intense. If you're not prepared, don't step into the meeting; you're going to get grilled”
pic.twitter.com/TWR3ouBgq2
At face value, the statement sounds like standard rookie humility. But context is everything. Dart’s remarks came just days after ESPN and The Ringer reported that Sanders’ pre-draft interview with Daboll didn’t go well—due to lack of preparation. The stark contrast between Dart’s praise for Daboll’s demanding style and Sanders’ alleged discomfort during the same process didn’t go unnoticed by fans or analysts.
It’s a sharp turn for Sanders, who just last fall threw for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, while earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. Once projected as a top-10 pick, the Colorado star shockingly fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, where he was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th pick.
Analyst Todd McShay offered additional insight, revealing that two teams with top-10 picks “didn’t get the sense that Shedeur cared all that much about what [they] thought of him.” Whether fair or not, that narrative seems to be gaining traction—especially after Dart’s pointed comments.
Now, Sanders finds himself in unfamiliar territory: with something to prove.
Buff Nation isn’t likely to stay quiet. If Sanders needs fuel, he just got it straight from one of the quarterbacks drafted ahead of him.
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