The New York Giants have been searching for an identity since their last playoff run. After a disappointing 3-14 season, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen made bold moves this offseason to establish a new culture—and potentially save their jobs in the process.
The most intriguing development? Their strategic approach to rebuilding the quarterback position, starting with creating the right locker room environment before selecting their quarterback of the future.
Instead of chasing a rookie at the top of the draft, the Giants focused first on the right veteran voices. Jameis Winston arrived on a two-year, $8 million deal to inject experience and personality into a stale locker room. Then came Russell Wilson, giving New York two proven quarterbacks to stabilize the room before bringing in a prospect.
Rather than use their No. 3 overall pick on a quarterback like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, the Giants took Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, then traded back into the first round to land Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25.
Sources say Dart was Daboll’s preferred quarterback throughout the pre-draft process, impressing in meetings, whiteboard sessions, and private workouts. That selection reveals a lot about the kind of culture the Giants want to build.
Why Dart over Sanders? Daboll values toughness, emotional steadiness, and a team-first mentality. Dart showed all three throughout his time at USC and Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin once called him a “99 overall in leadership,” and NFL Insider Jordan Schultz described him as having “elite leadership skills.” That quality was essential to a team that lacked internal cohesion in 2024.
During the pre-draft process, Dart was asked which quarterback he’d most want to train with. Instead of naming a legend like Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes, he said Jameis Winston. The choice speaks volumes. Winston’s “more giggles, more laughter, more fun” mantra is already reshaping the Giants' locker room. Now, Big Blue has a rookie quarterback who fits the energy and is eager to learn from it.
Unlike previous regimes that rushed young quarterbacks onto the field, Daboll has set clear expectations. Wilson is the starter. Winston is the backup. Dart will develop behind the scenes. “That will play out. Russ will be our starter. That is how it will be once we get started here in the spring,” Daboll told reporters. “The process of developing a quarterback is just that. So we’re going to do everything we can to develop [Dart] and bring him along.”
The blueprint mirrors what Daboll experienced in Buffalo with Josh Allen. According to multiple reports, Daboll and Schoen see parallels between Dart and Allen—not necessarily in physical tools, but in leadership and intangible qualities. Dart is seen as a “culture builder and competitor” who makes teammates want to follow him.
This patient, culture-first approach may also buy Schoen and Daboll time. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan noted, Dart may not see the field in 2025, and that’s okay. If the Giants show progress from last season’s 3-14 collapse and have a promising rookie in the pipeline, ownership may be willing to stay the course.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said as much, arguing that John Mara should publicly commit to letting this regime develop Dart. “For the Giants to finally turn it around,” Florio wrote, “they have to stop with the regular turnover.”
By choosing a quarterback who fits their vision instead of the flashiest name on the board, the Giants have made a statement. They’re building the house the right way—foundation first, quarterback later.