The New York Giants have been on a long quarterback search since Daniel Jones’ ACL injury in 2023 — and it just paid off in a big way. With the 2025 NFL Draft behind us, Giants GM Joe Schoen has opened up about how the team zeroed in on Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart, and the path that brought them there was shaped by lessons Schoen learned in Buffalo while helping draft Josh Allen in 2018.
Schoen remembered how, back in the day, Allen impressed the Bills not just with his arm but with his maturity and independence — like arranging dinner for the staff and handling logistical hiccups on his own. Schoen and the Giants wanted to see those same intangible qualities in this year’s QB class. That meant not just studying film but paying close attention to how players acted off the field, how they led teammates, and how they handled pressure.
Over the past year, the Giants left no stone unturned. Schoen and his staff crisscrossed the country, scouting top college QBs like Quinn Ewers, Will Howard, Jalen Milroe, Shedeur Sanders, and Kyle McCord. But one name kept rising to the top: Jaxson Dart. Whether at the Manning Passing Academy, during games, or at the Senior Bowl, Dart stood out for his leadership, passion, and ability to connect with players on both sides of the ball.
The Giants put Dart through a rigorous evaluation process — installs, film sessions, workouts, even dinner plans — and Dart consistently passed with flying colors. As Schoen put it, “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.”
New York ultimately traded up in the first round to get Dart, while also bolstering their pass rush with Penn State star Abdul Carter. The Giants even signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston as bridge quarterbacks, giving Dart time to develop.
For Schoen, the 2025 draft was about more than just picking a quarterback. It was about building a foundation and avoiding past mistakes — something he learned firsthand in Buffalo. And now, with Dart in the fold, the Giants are hoping they’ve landed their own version of Josh Allen, ready to lead them into the future.
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