On a pivotal night that could define the next decade of New York Giants football, General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll got their guys — and got them their way.
First came the bold trade-up late in the first round to land their quarterback of the future: Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart. Then came the powerful, tone-setting selection at No. 3 overall earlier in the evening, nabbing Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter — a player already being hailed as the next great defensive force to wear blue.
It was a night of strategy, conviction, and a new identity being forged in real time for Big Blue.
“We’re ecstatic,” Schoen said, smiling widely after the dust settled. “Two players who fit exactly what we want to be — tough, smart, competitive. Guys who can change a game and a locker room.”
A New Face at Quarterback: Jaxson Dart Comes to New York
The quarterback search started almost a year ago. It ended on a thrilling climb back into the first round, as Schoen worked the phones late into Thursday night, securing Dart after an exhaustive nationwide search.
“We went through an extensive quarterback process. It started as far back as last May,” Schoen said. “At the end of the day, we’re fired up to have Jaxson Dart as part of the organization.”
Dart, who starred at USC before thriving at Ole Miss, impressed the Giants not just with his arm and athleticism, but with his fiery leadership and toughness. On the field, he’s mobile, aggressive, and unafraid to push the ball downfield. Off the field, he’s outgoing, competitive, and — in the eyes of Schoen and Daboll — made for New York.
“He’s tough, he’s competitive,” Schoen said. “You watch him — he’s trying to run people over even in the Senior Bowl. He’s got the makeup we were looking for.”
Daboll, no stranger to quarterback development after his work with Josh Allen in Buffalo, was impressed by Dart’s upside.
“He’s got great athletic ability, he’s accurate, he can push the ball downfield,” Daboll said. “He’s got the attributes we look for. It’s going to be a process, but he’s got a lot to work with.”
Dart knows he’ll start by learning behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston — and he welcomes it.
“This is just where my journey starts,” Dart said. “I can’t wait to learn from Russ, from Jameis, from everybody in the building. I’m here to soak it all up and get better every day.”
The Giants aren’t rushing him. Wilson is locked in as the starter for now, but the future clearly belongs to Dart — a future the Giants are betting big on.
“This is a place I wanted to be,” Dart said. “And I feel like I’m built for it.”
A Defensive Force: Abdul Carter Joins the Fold
Before the quarterback fireworks, the Giants made a move that set the tone for the entire night: selecting Abdul Carter, the violent, versatile linebacker out of Penn State, with the third overall pick.
And it was a pick made with conviction.
“This wasn’t an easy decision at first,” Schoen admitted. “But as we went through the process, it became an easy decision. Abdul fits exactly what we’re trying to build here.”
Carter, who exploded as a pass rusher in his first year playing defensive end at Penn State, brings rare athleticism and flexibility to a Giants front seven that already boasts stars like Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“We’re going to be dominant,” Carter said, smiling wide. “It’s going to be dope getting to know those guys — and wreak havoc together.”
For Carter, the pick was personal. He grew up idolizing Giants legend Lawrence Taylor and dreams of carving out his own place in franchise history.
“LT is the G.O.A.T.,” Carter said. “Somebody I study, somebody I aspire to be like. I want to bring dominance back to New York.”
Daboll praised Carter’s upside, noting that even with all his production, the former Nittany Lion is just scratching the surface.
“What he can do off the edge is unique,” Daboll said. “And that was his first year. The ceiling is sky-high.”
Schoen emphasized Carter’s fit — not just physically, but culturally.
“When we talk about adding dawgs, about building a certain type of team, Abdul Carter is exactly that,” Schoen said. “Toughness, violence, relentless effort — he’s all of it.”
Despite outside speculation that drafting Carter could lead to a trade involving Thibodeaux, Schoen quickly shut it down.
“We’re exercising Kayvon’s fifth-year option,” Schoen said. “Kayvon’s going to be here. You can never have enough pass rushers.”
Instead, the Giants envision a terrifying trio of Carter, Thibodeaux, and Burns coming off the edge — backed by Lawrence in the middle. For a franchise built on defensive greatness, it’s a return to identity.
Building Something Bigger
Beyond the individual talent of Dart and Carter, Thursday night revealed something deeper about the Giants’ approach: alignment.
Schoen, Daboll, and their respective staffs have worked tirelessly to build a team in their vision — competitive, tough, fearless. Their first two picks of the 2025 draft embody that vision.
“We’re just getting started,” Daboll said. “There’s a long way to go. But it’s exciting. We’re building something here.”
For Carter and Dart, it’s a chance to help lead the next era of Giants football. For New York, it’s hope — real, tangible hope — that the future is finally here.
Two cornerstone picks. One defining night.
Big Blue is back.
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