It only took Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft for the Giants to successfully convince me they had a long-term strategy. Despite a lot of questions this off-season mainly at the QB position, Jaxson Dart will step into the NFL next season as its youngest quarterback at just 21 years old. Despite making 45 starts in college, he doesn’t have to be thrown into the fire immediately. And honestly, that’s exactly how it should be.
The Giants made a calculated move, trading up to the 25th overall pick in the NFL Draft without mortgaging their future. They gave up the 34th pick, 99th pick, and a future third-rounder. For what could become their franchise cornerstone, a lot of Giants fans are feeling good. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson isn’t exactly washed up. The vet completed 63.7% of his passes last season with 16 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. A decent bridge QB at this stage of his career.
Daboll knows a thing or two about quarterback development. This isn’t his first rodeo. Giants fans are hoping he can do what he did with Josh Allen in Buffalo. Turned a raw talent with accuracy issues into a perennial top-5 QB. This patient approach gives Dart cover from relentless New York media while providing crucial veteran mentorship. Oh, and don’t forget the Giants still managed to grab Abdul Carter, who was the best player in this entire draft. Joe Schoen has made some good decisions that may save his job. The GM believes people will look back in two or three years and realize they had a plan, and patience is a virtue. The same franchise that’s been making panic moves for the better part of a decade has caught my attention.
Four Deep: Wilson, Winston, Dart, DeVito
The Giants’ quarterback room is now a depth chart that features the perfect blend of veteran leadership and young talent that actually protects their most valuable investment. Russell Wilson sits at the top as the clear starter heading into camp. Having a Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler immediately gives this offense some serious credibility. Behind him is Jameis Winston, who’s not your typical backup. The former first overall pick brings legitimate starting experience and that infectious energy everyone knows and loves. The guy genuinely loves football and that kind of enthusiasm is contagious in any locker room.
Jaxson Dart slides in perfectly as QB3 with absolutely zero pressure to perform right away. He can absorb the NFL game, fix mechanics issues, and mentally process Daboll’s offense without the New York media breathing down his neck every practice. Tommy DeVito rounds out this foursome after his unexpected Italian dinner-inspired run last season. The local kid became a fan favorite overnight, might see himself out the door after training camp.
Holding off the New York Media
Let’s be real – New York isn’t just any NFL city. The media pressure here can absolutely crush even mentally tough rookies. How many promising careers have been completely demolished under the harsh New York spotlight? Too many to count. The Giants’ recent history shows this problem perfectly. Look at the Daniel Jones debacle. Thrown directly into the fire after Eli retired and let’s just say the rest is history. Rather than making similar previous mistakes, the Giants have presented a plan of patience and foresight.
Brian Daboll on the plan to bring Jaxson Dart along pic.twitter.com/1blCy1sXvc
— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) April 27, 2025
You haven’t seen a snap count like @JaxsonDart’s pic.twitter.com/69FYxpfG5I
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 24, 2025
Learning Before Leading Works
History is favorable when it comes to this approach. Patrick Mahomes spent his entire rookie year watching Alex Smith. Aaron Rodgers had a three-year internship behind Brett Favre. Again, that is what fans are hoping the outcome is. The secret ingredient isn’t immediate playing time – it’s proper development, period. Dart is kind of a wild card. He comes with a level of confidence, competitiveness and toughness that will lead to common rookie mistakes. Let’s not destroy that early on without proper preparation and development. It is not fair to any quarterback.
First-year quarterbacks almost always struggle with NFL defenses. They’re faster, more complex, and way more disguised than anything in college. Wouldn’t you rather learn those lessons in the film room instead of getting embarrassed on national TV? For Gods sake the Ole Miss snap count was a clap before the ball was snapped. No “Set Hut” or any hard counts. There is so much muscle memory that needs to be instilled as a prerequisite for success.
Veterans Bring WAY More Than Just Game Experience
The Giants didn’t just grab any random veterans to fill out their quarterback room. They landed two signal-callers who bring serious intangibles beyond their playing resumes. Wilson and Winston offer the perfect combo of championship DNA and infectious energy that creates the dream environment for a young QB like Dart. They have been there before. Wilson’s championship and leadership is exactly what this franchise needs. With a Super Bowl ring and showing he still has some in the tank, Russ brings instant credibility to a locker room that’s been lacking it.
Now, Winston brings something totally different but equally valuable. The guy’s energy is absolutely electric and contagious. In the pressure cooker that is New York sports, having someone who can keep things light is worth having. What’s most impressive about Winston is how he views mentorship. This isn’t some guy who resents helping the rookie who might eventually take his job. He learned from one of the best mentors in the game — Drew Brees in New Orleans — and described that experience as “one of the greatest” in his NFL career. That perspective alone makes him invaluable to Dart’s development. Together, Wilson and Winston create the perfect one-two punch of mentorship styles who will actually enjoy seeing Jaxson Dart improve as his rookie season goes on.
2025 Giants Draft Class! pic.twitter.com/N1u2Ckb8iL
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 26, 2025
The Giants' defensive line is SCARY 😳 pic.twitter.com/AbKoHMVP0x
— PFF (@PFF) April 25, 2025
Trading Up Without Breaking The Bank
You gotta appreciate how Schoen played it cool during the first round. He waited until and didn’t reach for the QB need at pick 3. The Giants eventually grabbed the 25th pick from Houston by giving up their second-rounder (34th), a compensatory third (99th), and a 2026 third-round pick. After landing his guy, Schoen couldn’t hide his relief. The Rams at 26 were reportedly itching to grab a signal-caller.
Keeping Picks While Landing Abdul
The Giants took great steps forward in the 2025 draft, landing two potential franchise cornerstones while still maintaining enough capital to address depth needs. Their remaining picks showcased their commitment to building a complete roster, adding Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander (65th overall) and explosive Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (105th) on day two and three. They further maximized value by acquiring picks from Seattle and Buffalo, which yielded Purdue offensive lineman Marcus Mbow (154th), Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II (219th), and Oklahoma State cornerback Korie Black (246th).
By snagging both an elite defensive talent and their quarterback of the future, the Giants pulled off what might be their smartest draft in recent memory. After years of short-sighted moves and panic decisions, I have a feeling Giants fans will look back on this draft and smile in the years to come.
Playing the Long Game
The Giants have finally put together a quarterback development plan that makes sense. No rush, no panic, just steps forward. In a league where rookie QBs are getting set up for failure. At just 21 years old, Dart needs time to develop – and signing two veterans can at least buy Daboll sometime from the fanbase pleaing for Dart by Week 5.
The New York media will eat you alive if you’re not ready. That is one thing Daboll and Schoen have learned in their early time in NY. We’ve seen it happen countless times. The constant “play him”, bench him” routine that can kill the mood of the fanbase. This veteran buffer and monster defense line they’re building protects their investment from that toxic cycle.
If Dart doesn’t take a meaningful snap in 2024, that’s perfectly fine. He can learn, develop, and prepare without the crushing weight of New York’s expectations. For the first time in forever, the Giants are thinking long-term instead of chasing quick fixes. That patient approach might just give Dart exactly what he needs to become their long-term quarterback.
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