It’s finally here—draft day, April 24, 2025, and the New York Giants are at the center of the NFL storm with the No. 3 overall pick. At 12:51 PM CDT, just hours before the first round kicks off, the buzz around the Giants is electric. Both they and the Cleveland Browns, who hold the No. 2 pick, have been in trade talks, weighing whether to move down or stay put. For the Giants, though, it looks like they might be staying right where they are—and a surprising clue from the GM’s own family could be tipping their hand on who they’re targeting.
For months, the Giants have been linked to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a name that’s been thrown around as a potential franchise-changer. But the rumor mill has shifted gears in a big way. Last night, Carson Schoen, the son of Giants GM Joe Schoen, reportedly posted a highlight reel of Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart on his Instagram story, according to a post by Warren Sharp. Carson quickly set his account to private, but the damage might already be done. This wasn’t a name heavily connected to New York before, and now it’s got everyone talking. Dart, who threw for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in his final college season, has been a riser in the pre-draft process, with his arm talent, accuracy, and toughness earning him fans across the league. Could this social media slip-up mean the Giants are zeroing in on him?
Here’s where things get interesting. The Giants have been in a tricky spot at quarterback for a while now. After a dismal 3-14 season in 2024, they moved on from Daniel Jones and brought in veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston during free agency. Those two are bridge options at best—Wilson is 36 and on a one-year deal, and Winston isn’t seen as a long-term answer either. The Giants desperately need a signal-caller to lead them into the future, especially in a loaded NFC East where they arguably have the worst quarterback situation in the division. The Eagles, Cowboys, and a resurgent Washington team with Jayden Daniels are all ahead of them, and New York can’t afford to keep falling behind.
But does that mean they’ll take Dart at No. 3? Not necessarily. There’s been chatter that the Giants could draft a top non-quarterback prospect—like Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter—with their third overall pick and then trade back into the first round to grab Dart later. This strategy makes sense when you look at the draft landscape. Posts on X have highlighted a divide in the Giants’ front office—some say head coach Brian Daboll isn’t as sold on Sanders as Schoen and the front office might be, and momentum for Sanders to New York has reportedly “cooled dramatically.” Meanwhile, NFL insiders like SNY’s Connor Hughes have reported that Daboll is high on Dart, valuing his toughness, a trait the coach prioritizes in quarterbacks. Dart’s stock has been climbing since the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, with some, like ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, insisting he won’t make it out of the top 10.
The Giants have options if they stay at No. 3. Carter, who’s been compared to Micah Parsons, has been the overwhelming choice in mock drafts, with Big Blue View noting he’s the favorite among analysts. Hunter, a generational talent who can play both cornerback and wide receiver, is another popular pick—though the Giants reportedly view him strictly as a corner due to concerns about his 183-pound frame handling a two-way role in the NFL. Taking one of these elite talents and then maneuvering back into the first round for Dart could give New York the best of both worlds: a blue-chip prospect now and a potential franchise quarterback to develop behind Wilson and Winston.
There’s a flip side, though. Some fans and analysts on X argue the Giants shouldn’t reach for a quarterback in this class at all, calling it a weaker group compared to recent years. They’d rather see the team stick at No. 3, take a player like Carter or Hunter to help immediately, and address the quarterback position later—maybe next year when Winston’s deal is up and Wilson is likely gone. Others point out that Dart might not even be available late in the first round, with teams like the New Orleans Saints (No. 9) and Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21) also spending significant time with him, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. If the Giants want Dart, they might need to act fast, which could explain the buzz about them staying put at No. 3.
Here’s what I think: the Giants can’t afford to keep kicking the can down the road at quarterback. Wilson and Winston are stopgaps, and the NFC East isn’t getting any easier. Dart might not be the consensus top quarterback in this class—Miami’s Cam Ward and Sanders often get that nod—but his skill set fits what Daboll seems to value. He’s got a quick release, can make plays with his legs, and showed at Ole Miss he can elevate an offense with sharp reads and pinpoint passes. Sure, he sometimes locks onto receivers too long, which could lead to turnovers against NFL defenses, but the tools are there for him to grow into a starter. If Schoen and Daboll truly believe in him, taking him at No. 3 isn’t as crazy as it might seem, especially after they passed on quarterbacks like J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix in last year’s draft and regretted it.
Still, there’s a case for playing it smart. If the Giants can nab Carter or Hunter at No. 3—both of whom could be instant impact players on defense—and then trade up from their No. 34 pick to get Dart, they’d be addressing two major needs without overreaching. They’ve got the draft capital to make it work, with five picks in the top 105, including a compensatory third-rounder. The risk? They might miss out on Dart entirely if teams like the Browns (who also need a quarterback and pick at No. 2 and No. 33) or the Saints jump in first. It’s a high-stakes gamble, but for a team that’s been stuck in the quarterback wilderness for years, it might be one worth taking. Tonight’s draft is going to be a wild ride for Giants fans, and all eyes will be on what Schoen does with that No. 3 pick.
