The New York Giants’ General manager, Joe Schoen, confirmed that Russell Wilson will take the first-team reps and be the starter heading into spring. After a 3-14 season that placed them last in the NFC East, the Giants needed a change, and they moved quickly to fix major problems.
In 2024, the Giants’ offense struggled badly. Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, and Tim Boyle all started games, but none could consistently move the ball. The team scored over 30 points only once and reached 20 points five times in 17 games. The defense, led by standout Dexter Lawrence, showed some strength but couldn’t consistently stop the run, pressure quarterbacks, or limit scoring.
Knowing they had to act, the Giants targeted the quarterback position. In free agency, they signed Russell Wilson to a one-year, $10.5 million deal and Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Looking at the numbers, Wilson had a stronger 2024 season than Winston. Wilson started 11 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, throwing for 2,482 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He completed 214 of 336 passes and finished with a 95.6 passer rating. He also rushed for 155 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Wilson led the Steelers to a 6-5 record in games he started and earned his 10th career Pro Bowl selection. Pittsburgh made the playoffs but lost 28-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round.
On the other hand, Winston played in 12 games for the Cleveland Browns, starting seven. He completed 181 of 296 passes for 2,121 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His passer rating was 80.6. He also added 83 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. The Browns went 2-5 in games Winston started.
Given these facts, it makes sense that the Giants chose Wilson as their starter. His production and experience give the team a better chance to win now.
At the same time, the Giants focused on building for the future. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they made two major moves. First, they used the third overall pick to select linebacker Abdul Carter, a defensive standout. Then, they traded back into the first round to draft quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick.
To make the trade with the Houston Texans, the Giants gave up their second-round pick (No. 34 overall), their third-round pick (No. 99), and a 2026 third-round pick.
Jaxson Dart, at 21 years old, brings a strong college résumé. After transferring from USC, he became a three-year starter at Ole Miss. Dart set the school’s all-time passing record with 10,617 yards, surpassing Eli Manning’s previous mark of 10,119.
In 2024, Dart had his best season. He threw for 4,279 yards, completed 69.3 percent of his passes, and tossed 29 touchdowns against only six interceptions. Dart led the FBS in yards per attempt at 10.8 and had 74 completions of 10 or more yards. He earned first-team All-SEC honors.
Dart played in a quarterback-friendly offense under Lane Kiffin. He made quick reads and delivered accurate throws, often hitting his first or second option. Though he does not have a huge arm, he consistently threw deep with good touch. Dart is mobile and uses his legs to extend plays, but sometimes takes unnecessary hits. His biggest area for improvement will be learning to read full-field defenses and adjusting when the first options are not available.
Because of this, head coach Brian Daboll made it clear: Wilson will start, and Dart will develop behind him. The plan is not to rush Dart but to let him learn and grow over time.
The Giants also made another important pick in the third round, selecting defensive lineman Darius Alexander from Toledo. Alexander’s college career showed steady improvement. After redshirting in 2019, he played in six games in 2020. In 2021, he appeared in 13 games with three starts, posting 21 tackles. In 2022, he recorded 21 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
In 2023, Alexander started 11 games and earned All-MAC Third Team honors after recording 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. In 2024, he made the All-MAC Second Team with 40 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and four passes defended.
Scouting reports describe Alexander as a strong interior lineman with good size and length. He can disrupt blocks but must improve his pad level for better consistency. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projected Alexander as a backup or rotational player with the potential to grow.
By putting these moves together, the Giants clearly outlined their strategy. Russell Wilson brings immediate leadership and stability. Jaxson Dart gives them a possible long-term answer at quarterback. Abdul Carter strengthens the defense right away. Darius Alexander adds depth to the defensive front.
The Giants now have a plan to compete in 2025 while preparing for the future. However, how fast Dart develops and how well Wilson plays will determine how successful this new approach will be. For now, the Giants have set a new course, one that focuses on fixing past mistakes and building a stronger foundation.
