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Giants Make Quarterback Announcement Before 2026 NFL Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Will Chesanek | Last updated Apr 13, 2026 2:13 PM ET

Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants are coming off another tough season. The Giants ended the season with a 4-13 record and finished last in the NFC East for the second straight year. Veteran Russell Wilson was the team's starting quarterback to start the season and was benched after just three games by head coach Brian Daboll, who opted for Dart as his replacement.

Dart came onto the scene strong, defeating Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers 21-18 for his first start in week 4. After defeating Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in week 6, Dart was 2-1 in his starts, and with rookie running back sensation Cam Skattebo by his side, many had high hopes for the Giants.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) and quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrate after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.© Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That win against Philadelphia was the peak of the season for the Giants, who unraveled shortly after. Rookie Skattebo suffered a gruesome season-ending ankle injury in a week 8 rematch against Philadelphia. Dart was exciting but reckless, going to the blue medical tent seemingly every other game before culminating in a concussion in Week 10 against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. Dart missed two games due to the severity of the injury.

The Giants would go on to lose nine straight games before defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 34-10 in Week 17. New York ended their season on a high note by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-17, who were without their star quarterback Dak Prescott. Daboll, who in 2022 earned NFL Coach of the Year honors, was fired after his fourth season.

Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is now in charge of the Giants, and he appears to be putting a primacy on the quarterback room this 2026 NFL season. On Monday, New York announced it signed quarterback Brandon Allen. With the 2026 NFL Draft coming up on April 23, Harbaugh is ensuring his quarterback room is settled beforehand.

Allen was originally drafted with the No. 201 pick in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2016 NFL Draft. He first saw action with the Denver Broncos in 2019, playing in three games while throwing for 515 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. For his career, he has played in 19 games, throwing for 1,882 yards on a 56.7% completion percentage to go along with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Allen has been a reliable backup quarterback in his career. He was the backup to Joe Burrow on the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020 to 2022. The 6-foot-2 quarterback spent 2024 with the San Francisco 49ers backing up Brock Purdy and spent last season with the Tennessee Titans as backup to the No. 1 overall selection from the 2025 NFL draft pick Cam Ward. The former Arkansas Razorback now joins Jameis Winston and Dart in the Giants' quarterback room.

"We have signed QB Brandon Allen" the Giants posted on X.