The New York Giants were in desperate need of a quarterback for the 2025 season and beyond. In the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they put their faith in Jaxson Dart, selecting him with the No. 25 pick.
The Giants’ decision to draft Dart was one of the most talked-about moves of that offseason, and the verdict on the polarizing choice is finally due. The quarterback’s first career start, against the Los Angeles Chargers, is just days away, giving the Giants and the rest of the league a chance to revisit the high-stakes gamble they took on the Ole Miss star.
As Dart prepares to take the field, the narrative comes full circle: the high-ceiling potential that led the Giants to draft him will finally be tested.
MORE: Brian Daboll banking on Jaxson Dart to save his job
Why did the Giants select Jaxson Dart?
The Giants have had below-average quarterback play dating back to the 2022 season, when Daniel Jones led them to the NFC Divisional Round. In both 2023 and 2024, New York ranked in the bottom four of the NFL in yards per game and points per game, winning nine total games across the two seasons.
In 2024, the Giants’ offense hit a low point, scoring 20 or more points in only five of 17 games. New York cut Jones in November, signaling a major quarterback change was coming. In the offseason, the Giants added three signal-callers: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Dart.
Dart was the final piece of the quarterback room in the NFL draft, with the Giants selecting him in the first round. Head coach Brian Daboll, general manager Joe Schoen and the front office were enthusiastic about the Ole Miss product.
Brian Daboll has given the keys to the franchise to 22-year-old Jaxson Dart 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/Xijxku1VUd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2025
Even more speculation of Dart to the Giants built the night before the draft, with Schoen's son, Carson, posting a Dart highlight reel to his Instagram story.
Joe Schoen’s son, Carson, posted a story from Jaxson Dart’s IG. Interesting… pic.twitter.com/wghJLhiSZV
— 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 (@AbdulCarterMVP) April 24, 2025
New York traded picks No. 34, No. 99, and a 2026 third-round pick to the Houston Texans to acquire the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, which they used to select Dart. This move allowed the Giants to jump back into the first round to secure Dart as their potential quarterback of the future.
It was New York's second pick of the night; the Giants selected Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith doesn't hold back on Giants QB Jaxson Dart
Where is Jaxson Dart from?
Dart is from Kaysville, Utah, and played high school football at Roy High School before transferring to Corner Canyon High School for his senior season.
During his senior year, he led Corner Canyon to an undefeated season and a state championship, earning honors such as Gatorade Football Player of the Year and MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
His parents, Brandon and Kara Dart, were both college athletes. Dart was also a two-time all-state third baseman in high school.
He was ranked the 13th quarterback in his recruiting class and committed to USC in 2021.
MORE: The Giants are putting Jaxson Dart in rough spot for NFL debut
Jaxson Dart college stats
Dart had a decorated college career, which included throwing four touchdowns in his first start at USC as a freshman. He went on to play in six games with the Trojans. In the offseason, with new coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams coming to California, Dart transferred to Ole Miss, where he was Lane Kiffin's signal-caller for three seasons.
Jaxson Dart throwing 20+ yards downfield in 2024:
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) September 23, 2025
🔹 37/88 (42.0%) with 47.7% adjusted completion rate
🔹 1,517 yards (which led the country)
🔹 17-4 TD-INT ratio
🔹 25 Big Time Throws, 6 Turnover Worthy Plays per PFF pic.twitter.com/63t9xIYsD2
In three seasons at Ole Miss, Dart threw for 10,617 yards, 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The Rebels finished with at least eight wins each year. The biggest victory came in the 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, when Ole Miss beat No. 10 Penn State behind 379 yards and four total touchdowns from Dart, sealing the program’s first 11-win season in school history.
| Year | Team | Completion% | Yards | TDs | INTs |
| 2021 | USC | 61.9 | 1,353 | 9 | 5 |
| 2022 | Ole Miss | 62.4 | 2,974 | 20 | 11 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 65.1 | 3,364 | 23 | 5 |
| 2024 | Ole Miss | 69.3 | 4,279 | 29 | 6 |
Dart had a record of 29-10 throughout his time with the Rebels.
MORE: What’s next for Russell Wilson and the Giants after benching for Jaxson Dart
Other QBs taken in the 2025 NFL Draft
Dart was the second quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, after Miami's Cam Ward, who was taken first overall by the Tennesseee Titans.
The Ole Miss quarterback was considered in the second tier of quarterback prospects, with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, and others.
| Round | Pick | Team | Player | College |
| 1 | 1 | Titans | Cam Ward | Miami |
| 1 | 25 | Giants | Jaxson Dart | Ole Miss |
| 2 | 40 | Saints | Tyler Shough | Louisville |
| 3 | 92 | Seahawks | Jalen Milroe | Alabama |
| 3 | 94 | Browns | Dillon Gabriel | Oregon |
| 5 | 144 | Browns | Shedeur Sanders | Colorado |
| 6 | 181 | Eagles | Kyle McCord | Syracuse |
| 6 | 185 | Steelers | Will Howard | Ohio State |
| 6 | 189 | Colts | Riley Leonard | Notre Dame |
| 6 | 197 | Texans | Graham Mertz | Florida |
| 6 | 215 | Raiders | Cam Miller | North Dakota State |
| 7 | 227 | 49ers | Kurtis Rourke | Indiana |
| 7 | 231 | Dolphins | Quinn Ewers | Texas |
MORE: Brian Daboll makes compelling statement on benching Russell Wilson, starting Jaxson Dart