Green Bay witnessed an exciting start to the NFL Draft on Thursday night as teams made significant moves to enhance their rosters. The New York Giants were among the standout teams, making waves with their selections.
After originally picking at number three, the Giants made a strategic trade with the Houston Texans, moving up to the 25th overall pick to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. New York sent out their second-round pick (34th overall), a third-round selection (99th), and a future third-round pick to secure their new signal-caller.
Dart was the second quarterback to come off the board, following Cam Ward from Miami, who was drafted first overall by the Tennessee Titans. The 21-year-old quarterback arrives in New York with a promising record from his time at Ole Miss, where he threw for an impressive 10,617 yards in his collegiate career, breaking the previous record held by former Giants star Eli Manning.
Coach Brian Daboll expressed enthusiasm about Dart’s skills and potential, saying, “I like the way he plays. I like his competitive fire. I like his accuracy. He has the attributes we were looking for. Excited to have him.” The Giants hope Dart can develop into a key player for the franchise, similar to how Josh Allen evolved under Daboll’s coaching.
Dart’s statistics from the last season were notable, recording a career-high 4,279 yards passing with a completion rate of 69.3%. With a strong showing in a quarterback-friendly offense, he led the FBS in yards per attempt and completions over ten yards.
His athleticism and ability to make plays on the move make him an exciting addition for the Giants. However, with the presence of veteran quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster, Dart is expected to learn from the sidelines as he transitions into the NFL. Daboll noted, “Russ will be our starter, and that’s how it will be once we get started here in the spring.”
The draft night proved to be advantageous for the Giants, as they also secured Abdul Carter, a standout defensive end, with the third pick. The combination of these two selections has the potential to change the course of the franchise if both players meet their expected potential.
In other notable draft moves, the Green Bay Packers selected Matthew Golden, a wide receiver from Texas, marking the first first-round wideout pick for the team since 2002. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers picked Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan at number eight and the Chicago Bears went with Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at number ten. The Las Vegas Raiders also made headlines picking running back Ashton Jeanty as the sixth overall pick, setting a record for the highest running back drafted since Saquon Barkley in 2018.
As the teams wrap up the draft activities, anticipation builds for how these new talents will impact their respective squads in the upcoming season.
