Jaxson Dart takes a major decision out of the Giants’ hands with a stellar Week 17 performance against the Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart reminded fans why he’s the future of the franchise.
The New York Giants entered a loser-take-all situation against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17. And the Raiders were the ones who came away with the grand prize of the pole position for the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Despite both teams’ best efforts to sit major starters and play as sloppily as possible, the Giants prevailed, 34-10. What does this win now mean for the Giants’ future as they prepare to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18?
Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft scenarios
With the win, the Giants move back to the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they are not removed from the race for the top pick.
If the Giants lose to the Dallas Cowboys and the Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs with their third-string quarterback in, they’d move back up to the top spot. As long as the Giants lose next week, they’ll retain the second overall pick. That second overall pick spot will still net them a major trade haul if they can effectively negotiate.
Drafting a Jaxson Dart replacement makes no sense
Early Sunday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported that the Giants are planning to evaluate everything, including whether to keep rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and draft one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. His performance today reinforced why that approach is illogical.
First, it’s ironic that the Rapaport statement included the qualifier that Schoen would likely keep his job, even though he’s been the one who caused their failures. Dart has been the singular bright spot of a season that was riddled with injuries and poor play.
Like any rookie, Dart produced promising performances and concerning lowlights. Many critics said Bears quarterback Caleb Williams would be a bust, and he just led the Bears to an NFC North title.
Additionally, any Giants fans who are buying this are completely disregarding how a potential trade-back negotiation works. Why would the Giants reveal their intentions and forgo significant leverage? This year’s draft class has few first-round-caliber quarterbacks, meaning they’ll need to convince someone to think twice about taking one of their options away.
While it’s possible the Giants could completely fall in love with Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore, it’s far more advantageous to accumulate draft capital to build the roster. If Dart had an improved receiving corps and a better offensive line in his second year, reaching the playoffs would be reachable.
Dart’s performance in Week 17 wasn’t immaculate against an awful defense without its best player. However, he looked far closer to the early-season version of himself when he was a more willing risk-taker. He finished the game with 207 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a 73% completion percentage.
Wan’Dale Robinson and Brian Burns rack up major stats
Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and pass rusher Brian Burns added to their already impressive 2025 seasons. Robinson finished the game with 113 yards on 11 receptions to officially pass the 1,000-yard mark.
For Burns, he totalled 1.5 sacks to add to reach 16.5 on his Pro Bowl season. Both players are clear building blocks for the franchise heading into 2026. Robinson’s performance especially established that he can be a productive second receiver in the offense. If the Giants land another elite athlete early in the 2026 NFL Draft, they could have a dynamic trio with Malik Nabers returning from injury.
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