Jackson Dart’s Journey to the Giants
Jackson Dart might not be a saint, but after his pre-draft meeting in New Orleans, he had some thoughts about his future.
The Giants and Saints were known to be desperate for quarterbacks as they approached the 2025 draft, and Dart was one of the standout talents in that class. He hasn’t forgotten how he felt when the Saints passed on him at pick No. 9, now as he readies to lead the Giants against them this Sunday.
“Whenever that happens, there’s definitely a chip on my shoulder,” Dart remarked after practice on Wednesday, just before his second career start. “I’ll do my best to play hard.”
He reflected on his visit with the Saints, thinking it went well and had shaped his expectations leading up to the draft. Still, things didn’t quite work out as he’d imagined.
On April 24th, the Giants chose to invest in him, while the Steelers opted against drafting a quarterback at pick No. 20. But the situation was unpredictable.
As general manager Joe Shane paced the draft room, he was acutely aware that the Browns (at picks No. 33 and 36) and the Saints (at No. 40) could interfere with his plans.
“It’s tough because you’re trying to read what other teams are thinking,” Shane said. “You assume they have a similar board to yours. If you like a player, you think others will too—but that’s not always the case.”
There had been considerable chatter in scouting circles regarding Dart and the Saints. Jeff Ireland, a former general manager, is now an executive with New Orleans. Dart had multiple meetings with the Saints, cultivating a good rapport with head coach Kellen Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nassmeyer.
However, nothing compared to his connection with Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Following an impressive 89-yard touchdown drive in a recent upset against the Chargers, Daboll famously cheered, “That’s our guy!” to the crowd.
“I love this place,” Dart expressed. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else. The passion from everyone, both inside and outside the facility, is just incredible. I appreciate the East Coast attitude here.”
Dart seems to embody the toughness often associated with New Yorkers. He showed up to practice with tape around his left foot and later wore a compression sleeve.
“Some of the hits I took were just unavoidable,” Dart acknowledged. “In the open field, I wasn’t going to slide. No regrets about those choices. I’m good with them.”
The Giants had explored trade possibilities before the draft, considering a deal with the Chargers at pick No. 22. However, that trade fell apart when they ran into complications with Omarion Hampton’s situation.
Shane had been worried about possibly missing out on Dart, especially during trade discussions with the Texans about pick No. 25.
“I viewed him as a top 10 pick,” remarked ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky. “He had a lot on his plate at Ole Miss. He understands the reasons behind plays. If you grasp the ‘why,’ you can better diagnose what’s necessary defensively when calling the play.”
Reports following the draft indicated that the Saints had rated Dart higher than their eventual selection, quarterback Tyler Schaff, whom they picked at No. 40. Schaff now backs up Spencer Rattler, who has had a rough start to his career with no wins yet.
The Giants had also brought Schaff in for a visit and organized private workouts, with their staff attending his pro day in Louisville.
“He’s a solid player with great athleticism,” Daboll commented about Schaff. “He has his unique journey, and I appreciated my time with him leading up to the draft.”
In the end, however, Dart was the Giants’ choice for the future, and now he’s stepping into that role.
“It was just one game,” Dart said about his recent performance. “We aim to win every game. Can’t let it get bigger than it is.”
