With the preseason wrapped up and the start of the 2025-2026 NFL season just one week away, teams have finalized their 53-man rosters. Cuts, trades, and contract agreements have been made in an effort to be the ones holding up the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
Among those teams are the one and only New York Giants. The Giants are coming off of a disappointing 3-14 record, which awarded them the 3rd pick in the draft. They used this to select Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter. The quarterback situation in New York has been a complete nightmare for fans ever since Eli Manning’s retirement in 2020. The team’s quarterbacks have continuously disappointed. It’s been a rocky road for Giants’ fans, but light may be emerging from the tunnel with the Giants’ latest prospect: Jaxson Dart.
The Giants acquired the 25th pick from the Houston Texans to select quarterback Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. This selection addressed the Giants’ quarterback void after Daniel Jones was released last season and Drew Lock signed with the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason. The Giants also signed other quarterbacks, including former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson and 2015 first overall pick Jameis Winston, thus giving them multiple options at the quarterback position.
Despite this, Jaxson Dart is definitely the Giants’ long-term prospect. At Ole Miss, Dart racked up 10,617 passing yards with a 65.7% completion rate and became their all-time leader in career passing yards, wins by a starting quarterback, and efficiency rating. His achievements during his collegiate career were enough to catch the Giants’ eye and make him the second quarterback taken in the draft.
Dart showed great promise throughout the preseason with 372 yards, a 68.1% completion rate, and 6 touchdown passes in 47 attempts, thus instantly making him a fan favorite. He put up these numbers without any of his passes being intercepted; this isn’t something that is done by many rookies, proving he is highly efficient. Despite this, Wilson was named the Giants’ starting quarterback, a decision I believe is strategic by the coaching staff. Having Wilson start the season allows Dart to develop under him and learn from him. Dart already has a phenomenal base, as proven by his preseason performance, and the mentorship of a former Super Bowl champion will only propel his game even further.
Similarly, Geno Smith was allowed to develop under Russell Wilson as the backup quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks for three seasons. When Smith became the starting quarterback in 2022, he had improved significantly from prior seasons. He led the Seahawks to the playoffs and made his first Pro Bowl appearance. I expect to see similar, if not better, results from Jaxson Dart, as he is younger and has much more upside than Smith.
The Giants have been adding to their arsenal of offensive weapons these past years. Last year, the Giants selected wide receiver Malik Nabers, who proved to be one of the NFL’s top receivers, as he was top 5 in receptions and had a total of 1204 yards in his rookie year. Having Nabers as a receiver will prove to be valuable to Dart’s game and development. This offseason, the Giants made efforts to improve their offensive line, which was a persistent issue for the Giants in previous seasons. With these improvements, Dart will have more to work with and a greater opportunity to make an impact on offense.
If the Giants stay patient, Jaxson Dart has the tools and support to become the franchise quarterback fans have been waiting for; he could be the one to finally bring championship hope back to New York. Beyond the statistics and accolades, Dart brings a new energy to a team that has been searching for strength at the quarterback position for years. His development could spark a revitalized offense, bring confidence in the locker room, and reignite the passion of Giants’ fans who have endured seasons of disappointment.
While the path to success is never guaranteed, the combination of youth, talent, and veteran guidance positions Dart and the Giants for a future that could return New York football to the heights fans have long dreamed of.
