Jaxson Dart has spoken out on being passed over by the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 NFL draft.
The former Ole Miss quarterback ended up being selected by the New York Giants after the team traded up to take him with the 25th pick in the first round.
The current rookie had met with the Saints multiple times in the lead-up to the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the visits to the team's facilities going down well.
However, the Saints opted against drafting Dart with the ninth pick, as they opted for offensive tackle out of Texas, Kelvin Banks Jr.
The Saints were clearly in for a quarterback as they ended up taking Tyler Shough out of Louisville with the 40th pick in the second round.
Despite this rejection, things appear to have worked out well for Dart in his NFL career so far, as he was named starting quarterback for the Giants ahead of week four.
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The 22-year-old replaced veteran Russell Wilson and led the NFC East team to a season-first win over the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers on his NFL debut last weekend.
Dart managed to register a passing and rushing touchdown in the 21-18 victory, exciting those in the MetLife Stadium crowd.
Dart reflects on Saints looking past him
After an encouraging showing on his professional debut, Dart is now preparing to face the Saints on Sunday (October 5).
Ahead of his team's trip to the Superdome, the Giants rookie quarterback has opened up about his week five opponents rejecting the chance to draft him back in April.
"There is always a chip on your shoulder any time something like that happens," Dart stated via ESPN. "But I'm just going to go out there and play as hard as I can."
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The rookie believes Sunday's opponents would have been a good place for him to begin his NFL journey and that he could have been a success in Louisiana.
"I felt like my visit with them went good. You have thoughts in your head about what options are realistic, and I felt that was a place that could've panned out. But things didn't work out that way."
However, Dart is focused on the Giants now and is more than satisfied with where he ended up.
"I love it here. There's not a place that I'd rather be," he claimed. "I love just how passionate people are outside the facility, in the facility. I like the attitude the East Coasters have. I love it."
Dart will be confident in showing the Saints what they missed out on this weekend, as the NFC South team have given up 121 points so far this season and are yet to win a game.
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