Why Did the Giants and Brian Daboll Prefer Jaxson Dart Over Shedeur Sanders?
When it came time for the New York Giants to explore their options at quarterback for the future, many fans speculated that flashy names like Shedeur Sanders would dominate the conversation. Instead, Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen ultimately leaned toward Jaxson Dart — a move that speaks volumes about their priorities for the offense moving forward. While Sanders offered star power and a big-play mentality, Dart’s game better fit the structure, toughness, and quick processing that Daboll wants in his quarterback. For a team trying to rebuild its foundation and get back to physical, smart football, Dart offered a cleaner, more immediate fit. It’s less about the ceiling and more about the kind of quarterback you can win with on a week-to-week basis in the NFL.
Schematically, Dart fits what Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka want to do better right now. He’s an efficient rhythm passer with good mobility who thrives on quick-game concepts, layered reads, and intermediate throws. His ability to work through progressions quickly fits the style Daboll used with Josh Allen early in Buffalo—lots of quick completions, calculated deep shots, and designed movement outside the pocket. While Sanders has excellent raw talent and improvisational skill, his tendency to hold the ball and extend plays could have been a tough fit behind a Giants offensive line still finding its footing. Dart's style allows the offense to stay on schedule, protect the line, and help the young skill-position players like Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. grow within structure.
There’s also a personality and leadership element that likely drew Daboll to Dart. Throughout his career at USC and Ole Miss, Dart was known as a grinder—a player respected for his toughness, team-first mindset, and steady emotional control. Daboll’s coaching style demands quarterbacks who can handle hard coaching, lead through adversity, and stay even-keeled when things aren’t perfect. Sanders, while extremely marketable and charismatic, brings a larger-than-life personality that might not have meshed as seamlessly with Daboll’s more traditional, workmanlike team culture. The Giants want a locker room where the quarterback is respected for his grit, preparation, and resilience—not his celebrity—and Dart checks all those boxes cleanly.
In terms of the developmental curve, Dart also feels more ready to compete sooner than Sanders. His game is based less on freelancing and more on timing, leverage reading, and anticipation—all things that translate faster to the NFL. Sanders still has massive upside, but he may have required a longer acclimation period, something the Giants can’t really afford, given the timelines for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen to prove this rebuild is on track. Daboll needed a quarterback he could mold quickly into a professional-level starter, not a multi-year project. Dart’s experience in multiple offensive systems at the college level gave him a readiness factor that fit better for New York’s immediate needs.
Big picture, choosing Jaxson Dart over Shedeur Sanders wasn’t necessarily a statement about star power or long-term potential—it was about fit, style, and control. Daboll wants a quarterback who plays within the offense, elevates others, and minimizes mistakes. Dart may not bring the same level of national attention, but he fits the Giants' desire to build something sustainable rather than sensational. If Dart continues to develop as expected, the decision could wind up being the quiet foundational move that helps stabilize the Giants' future at quarterback—and maybe even saves the jobs of the men who made it.
