Earlier in this mock, the New York Giants passed on the opportunity to draft quarterback Shedeur Sanders in favor of taking Penn State’s Abdul Carter, arguably the best defensive player in the draft class. With the way the board has fallen, and other quarterback-needy teams (Browns) coming up again at the top of the second round, the Giants found a willing trade partner in the Vikings to jump back up into Day 1 in order to find a potential franchise quarterback.
So with the 25th pick in the SB Nation Community Mock Draft, Ed Valentine of Big Blue View is selecting Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart in hopes that he solves the recent revolving door at the position for the Giants.
25.) New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Valentine: Trading up for Dart was always the plan after passing on Shedeur Sanders at No. 3. Whether I was going to be able to pull this off was always the question. As this unfolded, I wasn’t sure I was even going to need to trade up for Dart. I decided, though, that pick 105 was worth both the peace of mind and the fifth-year option.
Analysis: After the two top quarterbacks in Tier 1, Dart seems to be the consensus guy at the top of Tier 2.
He’s a four-year starter at the collegiate level with his final three seasons coming in the SEC at Ole Miss. In those three seasons, he showed obvious improvement culminating in a 4,279-yard senior season that saw him earn First-Team All-SEC honors and set the program record for career passing yards with 10,617.
Dart played in a very heavy play-action, spread RPO offense at Ole Miss that did not regularly ask him to make post-snap decisions at a high clip. Reads were simplified and pre-determined. The right coaching staff will certainly cater an offense to his skillset, but he’s likely going to need a year at minimum to get comfortable at the next level. With the Giants, he’ll get that behind Russell Wilson.
In an ideal world, the Giants don’t have to give up draft capital to move up and select Dart, but with the Browns looming, their hand was forced, especially if they deem Dart to be a much better prospect over the likes of Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Lousiville’s Tyler Shough.
Top five remaining players:
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
- Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
- Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
- Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
The Los Angeles Rams are up next on the clock. They drafted two stellar defensive trench players a year ago in Braden Fiske and Jared Verse. Will they continue to build that area of the defense with their first-round pick? They did sign wideout Davante Adams to replace Cooper Kupp, but what about finding another long-term prospect at receiver to pair with Puka Nacua going forward? Sure feels like the Rams could go in a number of directions so stay tuned to see where they go at No. 26!