The New York Giants made a bold move Thursday night when they traded up for Jaxson Dart.
The Giants essentially gave up two third-round picks to land the Ole Miss quarterback at No. 25 overall in the first round.
They went to get their guy. It's the kind of move that can sometimes pay off, if the QB pans out. Teams take risks to make sure they get the right quarterback, and this was the latest.
By one measure, though, it was an awful pick.
Pro Football Focus ruled it the "biggest reach" of the entire first round.
PFF had Dart ranked as its No. 131 overall prospect.
"After selecting Abdul Carter with the third overall selection, the Giants jumped back into the first round to draft a quarterback," wrote PFF. "Some thought it could be Shedeur Sanders, but New York landed on Jaxson Dart. While highly productive (91.9 PFF passing grade in 2024), Dart is very raw, as the system he played in at Ole Miss doesn’t translate very well to the NFL. Luckily for Dart, he doesn’t need to start right away after the Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason."
MORE: Giants' Jaxson Dart trade details
That last sentence is one of the keys to the entire pick. Wilson and Winston can mentor Dart and let him slowly acclimate to the NFL.
His deep-ball accuracy makes him a real possibility as a long-term answer at quarterback, and the Giants will be able to protect him until he's hopefully ready.
SN's NFL DRAFT HQ: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Top 250 big board
QBs are often overpaid for. By one ESPN ranking, Cam Ward was only the 18th-best player in the class, and he went No. 1 overall as the top quarterback.
The Giants will be totally justified if they have their long-term answer at QB. If not, the move will age poorly.
MORE NFL DRAFT:
- Browns facing crucial Shedeur Sanders-Jalen Milroe decision
- Alabama continues crazy NFL Draft first-round streak
- Browns' Travis Hunter trade mistake could be a generational error
- Steelers' Aaron Rodgers pursuit down to 2 outcomes after Shedeur Sanders choice
- Giants' Abdul Carter comparison to Micah Parsons makes sense for 3 reasons
- Panthers commit to Bryce Young with Tetairoa McMillan pick
- Bears just drafted Ben Johnson's new Sam LaPorta
- Cowboys draft pick Tyler Booker so excited, gives Roger Goodell huge bear hug
- Colts' Tyler Warren is biggest steal of NFL Draft first round
- Falcons' Jalon Walker draws comparison to Super Bowl hero
- Bengals draft Trey Hendrickson replacement with riskiest pick of first round
- Meet Grey Zabel, Seahawks new offensive lineman from NDSU
- Chargers' Najee Harris signing complicates Omarion Hampton draft pick
- Packers end crazy WR first-round drought with Matthew Golden pick
- Lions, Browns pick wrong sides of Ohio State-Michigan rivalry in NFL Draft
- Russell Wilson's history says Jaxson Dart has a chance at Giants starting QB job
- Aaron Rodgers is NFL Draft first round's biggest winner
- Saints could get one of Sanders, Milroe or Shough