Insiders share Brian Daboll, Joe Schoen theory about Giants' Jaxson Dart decision

The New York Giants happily made "bust-proof" Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter the third overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft before the club traded back into the first round, as expected, to grab Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at  No. 25. 

For a piece published early Friday, ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan touched upon how the Dart move could help head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen extend their tenures for at least one additional season. 

"It's possible that Dart doesn't even get on the field this season," Raanan explained. "That might not matter in relation to Schoen and Daboll's futures. If the Giants can improve on a 3-14 campaign and they have a potential future franchise quarterback to sell, that could be enough to buy them time. Would [Giants co-owner John Mara] really want the young quarterback to start over in Year 2 with a new offensive scheme and coaches? Unlikely, considering that is what he once said messed up Daniel Jones."

It is worth mentioning that the Giants' passing on Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, seen by many as the second-best quarterback of this year's class, twice during the first round could potentially cost Schoen and Daboll their jobs if the chip-on-his-shoulder prospect shines as a rookie and Dart either struggles or doesn't play. Daboll made it clear Thursday night that the plan is for veteran Russell Wilson to serve as Big Blue's starter for the foreseeable future. 

"Multiple sources across the NFL" spoke with league insider Connor Hughes of SNY about why Dart shouldn't be a QB1 at the highest level anytime soon. 

"He needs to develop mentally," Hughes said about Dart. "He needs to get used to the speed of the NFL. He needs to check the recklessness. There is starter potential within him. Some, although not all, believe there is the potential to be a good starter. That might take a full year. That’s perfectly fine with the Giants."

That last line is easy to say on the final Friday of April, long before MetLife Stadium ideally will be filled for more than a handful of Giants home games. Since the club's playoff loss to the rival Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, the Giants have gone 9-25. Meanwhile, the Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champions. 

Despite New York's woeful record across the past 34 contests, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio believes that Mara should "make a clear declaration" that Schoen and Daboll will "have a fair opportunity to develop" Dart. 

"For the Giants to finally turn it around," Florio argued, "they have to stop with the regular turnover. If Mara trusts Schoen and Daboll enough to let them trade up for Dart, he should trust them to preside over Dart’s career long enough to see whether they found an Eli Manning or whether they landed another Daniel Jones."

Depending on roster moves made between now and the end of August, Daboll could play either Jameis Winston or Tommy DeVito over Dart if Wilson flops as a starter or goes down with an injury as he did last summer. If Daboll rushes Dart into action at any point this fall, it may show that he hasn't received the vote of confidence from Mara that Raanan and Florio suggested.