The New York Giants are still living through a lost season, but the quarterback conversation has already jumped ahead to the future.
With New York sitting at 2-12 and draft projections filling airtime, Indiana standout Fernando Mendoza has started to surface as a possible answer down the line. Former college quarterback Jordan Rodgers believes that thinking misses the bigger picture.
Rodgers weighed in during Wednesday’s episode of Get Up, where discussion turned to what direction the Giants should take under center.
Rather than endorsing a reset, Rodgers made the case that moving away from rookie Jaxson Dart would only deepen the franchise’s long-running instability at the position.
His reasoning focused on something he believes still separates young quarterbacks who survive early NFL pressure from those who stall out.
“The problem is Jaxson Dart is a force multiplier because of his ability with his legs,” Rodgers said. “He can change the way you have to play defense. He can change the way he makes plays outside the pocket, those off-schedule plays. Fernando Mendoza can beat you from the pocket. He is so good, intellectual and accurate downfield, but it is so hard as a rookie to win in the NFL from the pocket without the ability to really hurt you with his legs and I think that’s the downside of his game.”
Why Rodgers sees more upside in sticking with Jaxson Dart
Rodgers went further by pointing out that Dart‘s evaluation should come with context. In his view, the rookie has already shown flashes despite operating without ideal support.
“He did it without Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo for most of the time as well,” Rodgers added. “He’s a dude you have to build around because he could be the next Josh Allen.”
The comparison to Josh Allen is less about style and more about patience. Allen entered the league as a raw player, but his mobility bought time while Buffalo constructed the roster around him. Rodgers believes Dart offers a similar margin for error, something that matters for a team still finding its footing.
Mendoza‘s rise explains why his name keeps coming up. After completing 226 of 316 passes for 2,980 yards with 33 touchdowns and only six interceptions, the Indiana quarterback captured the 2025 Heisman Trophy and instantly became a focal point of early draft speculation. If the Giants end up holding a top pick in 2026, the temptation to start fresh will be real.
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