Giants GM shares 'what really stands out about' rookie QB Jaxson Dart

One of the most discussed developments of the 2025 NFL Draft involved the New York Giants passing on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and trading back into the first round to grab Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart at pick No. 25.

During a recent conversation with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Giants general manager Joe Schoen addressed why he and head coach Brian Daboll eventually agreed that Dart was the right available quarterback for Big Blue after the Tennessee Titans made Miami's Cam Ward the draft's first selection. 

"What really stands out about Jaxson is his passion for the game, leadership amongst his teammates and how he can cross sides of the ball," Schoen explained. "Like, he’s not just sitting over with the offense the entire time. You see him interacting with the defense as well. That’s a big part of the live exposure — you have a bad throw, or you have a three-and-out, you come over to the sideline, who are you interacting with? Which coaches? Are you talking to your receivers? Are you talking to your line? Are you by yourself? Are you not? You get back up, go to the sideline and watch the defense out there. Those are all things that we’re watching and evaluating."

Since April 24, multiple reports have touched upon how Sanders' alleged handling of the predraft process caused him to fall to the draft's fifth round. Specifically, one of Sanders' visits with Daboll reportedly did not go well after the polarizing prospect "got called out" for not being fully prepared for that meeting. 

It appears Dart impressed Schoen and Daboll as it pertains to that aspect of the Giants' predraft evaluations. 

"Everybody has a different way to learn," Schoen told Breer. "So if you know how you learn, and what you need to do to get the information to be able to execute it, that’s part of the process, too. 'Does this person know how to teach himself new material, and then be able to execute it, regurgitate it and talk about it the following day?' Jaxson did a really good job with it."

In the end, the Giants traded 2025 picks No. 34 and No. 99 along with a 2026 third-round choice to the Houston Texans for what became the Dart selection. Some believe the Los Angeles Rams would've taken Dart had he fallen to them at pick No. 26, as the Rams could part ways with starter Matthew Stafford next offseason. 

"We’re all on the same page," Schoen added about the Giants trading to draft Dart. "The coaching staff, the personnel staff, that the collaboration and the detailed process, typically, it will lead you to making really good decisions. And we’ll see how it plays out."

Both Schoen and Daboll seemingly want to sit Dart behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston through most or all of the 2025 campaign so that the rookie can develop as an unused backup. History shows such plans can change in a hurry, especially if an executive and/or a coach feels that playing a first-year pro could prevent an owner from blowing things up during the winter months.