Following the NFL Draft, there’s been significant chatter about what Shedeur Sanders failed to do during the pre-draft process — missteps that may have led the New York Giants to pass on him. In a recent piece by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Giants GM Joe Schoen shared more insight into why the team ultimately chose Jaxson Dart, trading up to select him with the 25th overall pick.
According to Breer, Sanders struggled with a pre-draft evaluation task: he was given an installation package by the Giants that contained deliberate errors, but he failed to spot them — and the situation reportedly turned tense when he was called out. Breer noted, “He didn’t catch the mistakes and got called on it… he was upset they set him up that way.”
In contrast, Dart excelled in the same evaluation. Schoen emphasized the importance of learning styles, saying that understanding how a player processes and retains new material is part of the evaluation. Dart demonstrated a clear learning method and showed he could study, retain, and discuss the material the following day — a strong sign of preparedness and adaptability.
Breer also reported that all quarterback prospects went through identical on-field drills, and Dart stood out for his passing performance compared to others.
Schoen highlighted another aspect that impressed him about Dart: his leadership and presence during live games. He noted that Dart wasn’t isolated on the sidelines — he engaged with both offensive and defensive teammates, showing a level of leadership and emotional awareness that made a strong impression.
“There’s so much you can see in live exposure,” Schoen said, referencing Dart’s interactions after tough drives. “It’s about how players respond, who they talk to, and how they stay connected to the team.”
Breer’s full report includes more details, some of which were mentioned by Schoen on draft night, offering a deeper look at why the Giants viewed Dart as the right fit.
