The 2025 NFL Draft delivered its share of surprises, none more stunning than the slide of Shedeur Sanders, once projected as a top-10, even top-3 pick. Instead, the Cleveland Browns selected him in the fifth round with the 144th pick. Equally noteworthy was the New York Giants’ decision to trade up for Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick, a move that cost them the 34th, 99th, and a 2026 third-round pick to the Houston Texans. While Sanders’ fall raised eyebrows, Dart’s rise to the first round underscored the Giants’ belief in his potential. Both quarterbacks now face different challenges and opportunities as they begin their professional careers, with Dart expressing his excitement about joining the Giants and Sanders adjusting to a crowded Browns quarterback room.
Jaxson Dart’s Dream Realized with the Giants
Video from the Giants’ draft room captures Jaxson Dart’s heartfelt moment when he told the team’s front office and coaches, “I told you guys this is where I wanted to be… I love you guys.” His words suggest the Giants were his preferred destination, despite months of speculation linking Shedeur Sanders to New York. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Dart completed 69.3% of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions in his senior season at Ole Miss, positioning him as a potential starter in a year or two.
The Giants, who have only made the playoffs twice since winning the Super Bowl in 2011, see Dart as a key to their future alongside Abdul Carter. He’ll spend this season learning behind veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl champion, and Jameis Winston, a former first overall pick who has reinvented himself as a backup.
This setup offers Dart a rare luxury: time to adjust to the NFL without immediate pressure, a privilege few first-round quarterbacks enjoy. His projected four-year, $16,954,982 rookie contract, which has yet to be signed, reflects his draft status, though it pales in comparison to the endorsement deals Sanders is likely to attract because of his popularity.
Shedeur Sanders Navigates a Crowded Browns QB Room
Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, finds himself in a different scenario after confidently predicting a move to the Giants, only to land with the Cleveland Browns. A video shared by his stepbrother, Deion Sanders Jr., showsSanders hinted to his inner circle that the Giants were going to take him. This was before the draft, and today, we see the result.
He’s now part of a quarterback group that includes the injured Deshaun Watson – whom the Browns’ owner has called a draft mistake – 17-year veteran Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, a Heisman finalist from Oregon taken with the 94th pick. The Browns’ quarterback situation is chaotic and decisions loom large. Watson’s massive contract and injury history make him a candidate for a trade or cut, and one of the rookies, likely Sanders or Gabriel, could also be at risk when the 53-man roster is finalized in August. Pickett also remains in the mix. For Sanders, the challenge is steep, but his talent and marketability could still shine through, even as a backup.
The contrasting draft experiences of Sanders and Dart highlight the unpredictable nature of NFL talent evaluation. While Sanders’ star power and family name drew attention, Dart’s steady performance and the Giants’ investment in him signal a different kind of opportunity. Both quarterbacks are at career crossroads, with Dart potentially poised to lead New York out of its doldrums and Sanders fighting for a spot in Cleveland’s crowded quarterback hierarchy.
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