Giants' Jaxson Dart responds to Fernando Mendoza report after win over Raiders

A Sunday morning report shared that the New York Giants could "evaluate all options" regarding their quarterback situation during the upcoming offseason, including possibly drafting 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

However, that was said hours before the Giants earned a 34-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders that improved Big Blue to 3-13 and left the 2-14 Raiders in position to make Mendoza the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 player-selection process. 

Following Sunday's win, Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart revealed that he did not see the report about the club's possible interest in an advertised upgrade at the position. 

Jaxson Dart thinks he's part of Giants' "bright future" 

"I'm going to continue to play my ball," Dart explained, per Ben Krimmel of SNY. "I know I'm going to be here for a very long time, and I'm just excited to start winning more games and turn this place around and do my job, and we have a bright future." 

Giants legend Tiki Barber has openly discussed having conversations with team co-owner John Mara about matters related to the organization. On Sunday, Barber dismissed the idea that the team could replace Dart with Mendoza. 

That said, there are legitimate concerns about Dart's long-term health because he has been evaluated for a concussion during games five times since August. Dart ultimately missed a pair of November contests because of a concussion.

Additionally, Mara has not yet confirmed that general manager Joe Schoen will hold onto his job through the winter. A different regime could theoretically want to pick its own QB1 in 2026.

Jaxson Dart, Giants ignoring tanking "noise" 

As ESPN's Jordan Raanan pointed out, the Giants could still claim the first overall pick of the 2026 draft by losing to the Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) on Jan. 4 if the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) that same afternoon. Following Sunday's win, Dart suggested he and his teammates will be playing to end the season with a win over Dallas. 

"I felt it was just noise," Dart said about pockets of Giants fans wanting the club to finish with the league's worst record and the draft's first pick. "Sometimes that just happens. You know, us not having the year that we wanted, and people just start talking. But from a player perspective, from a team perspective, I thought we were dialed in all week and, you know, we needed to win. Just from a morale [standpoint], just some excitement finally. We needed to win. And that's how we felt."