DECEMBER 31: During his latest episode of Breaking Big Blue, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes no one around the NFL is operating with the belief Schoen is in danger of being fired. The team’s head coaching future remains unclear, but it increasingly appears as though no front office moves will be coming.
DECEMBER 28: At times this year, it seemed a low period for the Giants franchise was coming to an end and starting to head uphill as we saw early success with offensive rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. Some of those opinions have waned as the season has worn on, to the point that some see the Giants utilizing their first-round pick on a quarterback for the second draft in a row. 
After the Giants tried and failed to move up to No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft to take Cam Ward, there was some speculation that they may attempt to trade back into the back of the first round for another quarterback option, perhaps Shedeur Sanders or Dart. The Saints had been tied to Dart, as well, but after he slipped by their No. 9 overall pick, all eyes were on New Orleans to trade back into the first round, as well. Ultimately, it was New York that pulled the trigger and landed Dart.
Expectations for Dart’s first season varied wildly. Some viewed a short leash for veteran starter Russell Wilson, while others thought Dart could hold a clipboard throughout his entire rookie campaign. After an 0-3 start to the season in which the Giants scored fewer than 10 points in two of those games, the team turned the offense over to the rookie, and Dart delivered, immediately, with a win over the playoff-bound Chargers.
The following week, Dart showed some vulnerabilities in a game that would give the Saints their first win of the season, but he rebounded with a big win over the division-rival Eagles in his third start. A playoff gauntlet that included trips to Denver, Philadelphia, and Chicago and a home matchup with the 49ers prevented any more wins from being added to Dart’s record, but the young passer continued to show strong abilities and impressive instincts in his first several starts under head coach Brian Daboll.
As Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York points out, though, Daboll’s firing led to some regression in Dart’s overall performance. After throwing 10 touchdowns to just three interceptions and rushing for seven more scores in his first seven starts, Dart has only thrown three touchdowns to two interceptions while staying scoreless on the ground up until today’s win over the lowly Raiders. Post-Daboll, the team’s designed usage of Dart was altered in a way that perhaps now lends some justifiability to looking into a new passer next year.
To that end, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that, before making any concrete plans for the future, the Giants will be fully evaluating Heisman-winner and projected QB1 of the 2026 NFL Draft Fernando Mendoza. While not boasting talent that commands surefire No. 1 overall status à la Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence, the Indiana-product (by way of Cal) has been billed lately as the top passing prospect in the coming draft. With the finalized holders of the top two picks in the draft both being quarterback-needy teams, there’s a high likelihood that Mendoza could be selected with one of those two picks.
If the team does decide to draft a new quarterback, the expectation is that they would try to trade Dart to another team searching for an answer at the position. Dart’s early promise and strong attributes could make him a strong option for many teams lacking at the position, but if the Giants grade Mendoza highly and like him more than they currently like Dart, the rookie’s concussion history and reckless play style could make him an expendable asset in the eyes of the team.
Part of these decisions will come down to the staffers making them, and while general manager Joe Schoen has been expected to be retained in New York, his position is hardly secure. In fact, while Rapoport didn’t speak to this point in his segment linked above, the banner showing as he discussed the Giants reported that Schoen was “likely to remain with (the) team for (the) draft.” It’s hard to believe New York would allow Schoen to have input on something as impactful as the team’s 2026 first-round pick — or their next head coach — if they didn’t expect to retain him past that, but NFL Network’s wording seems ominous, nonetheless.
We’re still months away from any solid answers on what the future will bring for the Giants. Next week could determine if they have the No. 1 overall pick. Several stages of the pre-draft process could determine if Mendoza will be the likely draft choice. Who the team drafts could easily determine the futures of both Dart and Schoen. Lots of variables remain up in the air for what is setting up to be a newsworthy offseason in New York.
Ha. No they’re not. You have your guy in Dart
Get him and Skattebo some oline help
Get a #2 opposite Nabers
Resign Wandale Robinson as your slot guy
And get a draft ransom for the #2 pick
The most logical take I’ve seen so far
Bingo, you nailed it!
The o-line was actually pretty good this year…. definitely could use more depth,of course ..The real issue is the secondary…. They need a CB in the worst way and they also need a linebacker. We didn’t lose many games because of the offense…. The defense was the main culprit. The secondary in particular.
I agree. I read this and my eyes hurt trying to help my brain come up with a good reason. I can see taking the 4th or 5th QB later down the draft but Dart with some help he already has plus what you suggested would make more sense. When in doubt go the obvious route and no QB, FA or draft moves the needle and Dart played top Ds and showed life. Let him play. Don’t be a dumpster fire.
By all means, trade Dart out of the division.
I don’t know why nobody has done this in football.draft the QB and let him or dart compete to start.who ever it isn’t would still have high trade demand for sure.Shanahan did it best draft rg3 then draft cousins best man wins.
yeah I mean the Redskins got a ton of trade value from RGIII once they moved onto Cousins
yeah the Redskins got a ton of trade value in RGIII once they moved onto Cousins
Cousins was a 4th round pick thou lol. And RG3 and Cousins came from the same draft. Neither had proven anything in the NFL.
Colts also did this drafting Andrew Luck 1st overall and some dude in the 7th named Chandler. Got 0 trade value for Chandler. Same trade value Redskins got for RG3.
What team in their right mind would trade up last year giving away their 2nd and 2 3rds to draft Dart just to turn around and draft another QB instead of trading back and building your roster around Dart?
oh I know! I know! the Raiders would. oh wait. you said team in their right mind. never mind. but as a Raider fan of 45 years….they would be that stupid if given the opportunity.
I mean, to be fair, Cardinals traded up for Josh Rosen if I recall or they could have just stood pat at 10, only for him to suck and a year later traded him for a late 2nd round pick which became nada and took Murray. Whiffed # 1 overall and # 10 overall.
And then you have the Browns where they had a run of taking Colt McCoy in the 3rd, then 2 years later drafted Branden Weeden in the 1st, and 2 years later drafted Johnny Manziel in the 1st, and then Cody Kessler in the 3rd 2 years later, and then Baker Mayfield 1st overall 2 years later
That was a pretty epic run of missing on 5 QBs in 8 years
So lets say Mendoza wins the job are you telling me that somebody wouldn’t give a 1st plus for dart or vice versa ,I think they would.also I want QB insurance until I know he’s the guy that’s all.I don’t think its that crazy,but of course everyone would freak,who cares.
No. They would not. Cause the Giants nor any team is gonna carry two first round draft pick QBs from back to back years.
Nobody is gonna offer a 1st for Dart cause the alternative is him sitting on the bench which is a waste of not only a 1st round pick but making the trade in the first place.
It’s crazy as crazy gets to draft ANOTHER QB 2nd overall after taking a Dart 25th overall and seeing him perform reasonably well his rookie season.
That’d be like saying hey Washington draft another QB to compete with Daniels or New England draft another QB to compete with Maye or Chicago and Williams. Nobody did that cause it’s a waste of a pick.
Well mac Jones will probably net a 2nd at least,Alex smith two 2nds,josh Rosen who was horrible his first year a 2nd.a QB with potential and cheap is worth a 1,or a least a couple 2’s and then you KNOW he’s the guy.I’m not stopping drafting a qb until I get a superstar period,and I know its hard to do that’s all I’m sayin.
Yeah jones isn’t netting a 2nd
1 year in a QB friendly system, after struggling in JAX and NE and 1 year deal meaning he’s gonna need a new contract yeah teams aren’t giving up a 2nd
Back in the day, Jimmy Johnson drafted Troy Aikman, then took Steve Walsh in the first round of the supplemental draft. It was Walsh who actually won their only game of the season.
Cowboys did this in ‘89 with Aikman and Walsh. Spent what amounted to 2 #1 overall picks and let them fight it out.
Panthers took Jimmy Clausen at the top of the 2nd round, then Newton #1 the next year.
There is a zero, and I mean zero, percent chance the Giants draft a QB. This article and speculation by Connor Hughes is silly. Dart’s performance has “regressed” because the Giants have nothing to play for and have changed their offensive approach to prioritize tanking and protecting Dart.
There’s really only one ‘bad’ game since Daboll left and that was because they were going against the Patriots. Aside from that, the low numbers in the Vikings game were because they ran the ball 30 times and tried to run the clock the whole game. They were soft tanking and protecting Dart. Look at today. Back to playing normal (because the Raiders are awful and there’s no tanking around that) and Dart was great again. They’re not drafting another QB.
It’s pretty simple. They want other teams to think they would draft Mendoza if they get the top pick, which they didn’t. This was all a weak play to increase value of the top pick but the Giants fumbled the bag by winning a meaningless game.
Some scouts feel that Moore will be a better pro, so having the 2nd pick in a draft with 2 highly regarded QB’s could have the same advantages as holding the #1 pick.
Soft tanking? RCT must have invented the term while doing the laundry and trying to squeeze a pillow into the washing machine…lol
@crosseyedlemon: You’re supposed to say ‘soft tanking’ in the same way that George Bluth says ‘light treason’ on Arrested Development.
My lord, what an awful franchise.
If Dart doesnt protect himself better, he wont make it to another contract. He will get better with the Giants but the line needs more talent.
I mean Look at how much times the dude has gone to the blue tent…..
Dart didn’t spend time in the blue tent in Vegas.
Dart was rushed, should have stuck with Wilson while Dart learned…on that note, Raiders lose to the Chiefs next week…they draft the QB…
You don’t draft a QB in round 1 and then give up on him by drafting another one a year later!! This is all media driven
You can never have too many QBs running for their lives behind an OL that blocks worse than Lego 🙂
If the Giants are seriously contemplating a new QB, then a new GM should do the drafting. If it’s a bluff, they still need a new GM. That’s been an awful roster under the current GM.
This is beyond stupid. Mendoza couldn’t carry Dart’s jockstrap
Garbage media
First: Get a head coach who’ll bring in his own OC to plan an offense that spreads the wealth around.
Second: Put the defense on a short leash. Half-ass anything, you’re on the bench. That goes for Abdul Carter, Dexter Lawrence, etc.
Third: Make Wan’Dale Robinson your go-to pass catcher, not the diva Nabers.
Joe Schoen should’ve been the first one fired, he bungled the Barkley/Jones deals, he is a horrible GM and should be 90% blamed for the state of the Giants organization
Of course the Giants are going to evaluate the top draftable QBs, they have a high pick. You have to know what might be available with the pick before you consider trading it ir keeping it.
CAP. Already starting with the draft smoke
Smokescreen
They have the potential to be rly good, they already have a rly solid defense and 2 good young receivers. Dart was rly good last season and if skattebo can stay healthy, they might be a contender in 3-5 years
So they want to turn him into josh Rosen?