New York Giants Draft Report Card: Was Dart the Right Pick?

The 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, and the New York Giants were one of the headline teams.

With this being the make-or-break year for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, they needed to make franchise-altering moves. They did just that, creating one of the most significant moves of the draft by trading for the 25th overall pick and drafting Jaxson Dart.

It’s time to determine how Schoen and the Giants performed this draft, especially with the decision to draft Dart.

Abdul Carter, EDGE: A+

One of the most talented edge-rusher prospects of the decade, there was no other choice for the Giants.

This is nothing short of a home run for Schoen, making the Giants one of the best pass rushing groups in the league. Carter will be a contender for 10+ sacks on day one. With Carter’s combination of athleticism, bend, and hands, there is no reason he won’t become an all-pro level player.

Besides Carter’s edge presence, he can also play in the middle of the field. Carter can work as a QB spy for division rival QBs like Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts, or he can be a blitz up the middle. With this versatility, the Giants can maximize the production of their edge rotation of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter.

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Jaxson Dart, QB: C-

One of the most controversial decisions in the draft was the Giants trading back into the first round and drafting Dart.

Some think it’s the right move because the Giants desperately need a franchise QB. Others feel that this is one of the biggest reaches of the draft, and they should’ve drafted a QB with similar talent later in the draft, such as Jalen Milroe or Shedeur Sanders.

The Giants gave up a hefty haul, including their 2025 second-round pick, third-round pick, and 2026 third-rounder. Having a team like the Giants with so many holes on its roster trade away potential starters for a quarterback who may not even see the field this year is a recipe for disaster.

There are many things to be concerned about with Dart’s game. He tends to stare at one receiver instead of analyzing the field. Dart also has, at best, decent accuracy, causing him to miss open check-downs and deep shots.

Although he is not a first-round talent, he possesses promising traits that can complement Daboll well. Dart will immediately become one of the better runners in the league, with impressive coordination, speed, and vision. Additionally, Dart has excellent anticipation of run-pass options, play-action passes, and, most importantly, a strong arm.

Darius Alexander, DL: A

Besides Dexter Lawrence, the Giants have no depth on the interior defensive line.

The Toledo defensive tackle is the perfect solution. Alexander has an effective pass rush bag and some high peaks in the run game. The one concern with his game is whether he can develop a consistent bull rush.

With the additions of Alexander and Carter, the Giants have possibly the most complete defensive line in the NFL. Despite battling injuries last year, the Giants still finished ninth in the league in sacks (45.0). It is a scary thought for other teams to think about how great their defensive line will be this year with their new rookies.

Cam Skattebo, RB: A-

The Arizona State running back is one of the biggest bruisers in the draft.

Skattebo has a unique playstyle, standing at just 5’9 1/2″ and 219 pounds, Skattebo relies on power instead of agility. This leaves people questioning if a player of that size and skill set can succeed in the NFL. Skattebo has too large a skill set not to secure a role with a team.

Skattebo runs like he’s been in the NFL for years with his vision and patience behind the offensive line. The biggest thing about Skattebo’s game is his ability to break tackles. Skattebo’s play style pairs great with Tyrone Tracy Jr., allowing the Giants to run a wide range of running plays.

Marcus Mbow, OL: A+

One of the biggest steals of Day 3 is former Purdue lineman Marcus Mbow.

Mbow was projected to go as early as the second round in many mock drafts. As he continued to fall, Schoen paired Mbow with his former Purdue teammate, Tyrone Tracy Jr. After another year of poor offensive line play, the Giants needed new talent.

Mbow will likely replace Greg Van Roten in the guard position, which is a considerable upgrade. In 658 snaps last season, Mbow allowed just three sacks. The Giants have sorely missed having a reliable interior offensive line, which will be a massive addition to the offense.

Thomas Fidone II, TE: B

At this point in the draft, it is more likely that the players are on the practice squad than suiting up on Sundays, but Fidone offers a lot for a seventh-round pick.

The 6-foot-5 Nebraska tight end can bring a lot when on the field. Fidone has strong hands and is shifty after the catch. His blocking is also impressive, although he can struggle to locate his blocker. Once he engages with them, he doesn’t budge.

Despite his issues with route running, Fidone can potentially be a solid rotational tight end for the G-Men.

Korie Black, CB: B+

The speedy corner from Oklahoma State is a sneaky pickup by Schoen.

With three interceptions and nine passes defended last year, Black was a ballhawk. Black has the athleticism and ball skills to stick in the NFL for some time, but he needs to clean up some significant issues. Black gets caught staring at the quarterback, losing the receiver, and being defective in the run game.

Cornerback is still a position the Giants lack, and it was a good move to take a swing on a phenomenal athlete like Black.

Overall: A-

Schoen did an exceptional job in what may be his last draft.

The Giants have filled primary needs in the offensive and defensive lines and brought versatility to the running game. Even though Dart may end up being the wrong pick, he was the quarterback that Daboll wanted, and given his success with quarterbacks in the past, that’s a trustworthy co-sign.

After a bleak end to the regular season, the Giants have begun to form an identity over the past few months as they prepare for the upcoming season.