Reporter addresses if Giants ruined Rams' Jaxson Dart plans

In the weeks and days leading up to April 24, multiple analysts mentioned that the Los Angeles Rams could select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 26th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft because the Rams could part ways with veteran Matthew Stafford as soon as next offseason. 

However, the New York Giants leapfrogged the Rams in the draft order to grab Dart at choice No. 25. 

On Friday, NFL reporter Armando Salguero of OutKick suggested the Giants ruined the Rams' plans for finding Stafford's eventual replacement on Thursday night. 

"The Giants traded into the spot just above the Rams," Salguero explained. "And the Rams, seeing New York's move and pick of Dart, immediately traded down. That was not a coincidence. ...NFL people believe [the Rams] expected to take Dart with their pick had the Giants not intervened. But as soon as the Giants did jump ahead and picked Dart, Rams coach Sean McVay, who knows quarterbacks as well as anyone, immediately exited the first round by fleecing [the Atlanta Falcons]."

Per Marc Raimondi of ESPN, Atlanta sent second-round (No. 46) and seventh-round picks (No. 242) this year and a 2026 first-round selection to Los Angeles for the 26th pick and a 2025 third-round choice (No. 101). The Falcons ultimately took Tennessee edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26. 

To compare, New York traded 2025 picks No. 34 and No. 99 along with a 2026 third-round selection to the Houston Texans for what became the Dart pick. Salguero noted that the Giants "paid less for their quarterback of the future than the Falcons paid for a pass-rusher."

The "quarterback of the future" line is jumping the gun a bit, as one can only guess what Dart will become while learning from Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito. That said, the Rams allegedly thought enough of Dart to at least consider having him serve as Stafford's understudy through the 2025 season. 

Both Stafford and McVay previously acknowledged that the 37-year-old essentially has only a year-to-year arrangement with the organization that was willing to let Stafford explore trade possibilities this past winter. What's done is done, and McVay will have to look elsewhere for Stafford's successor.