Giants GM Joe Schoen reveals how plan for Jaxson Dart is similar to Josh Allen with Bills

When Joe Schoen was the Buffalo Bills’ assistant general manager in 2018, the franchise drafted Josh Allen. They had a plan for him to sit and effectively redshirt, but the former Wyoming star eventually became the starter after Nathan Peterman struggled.

Fast-forward seven years, and Schoen drafted another dynamic quarterback in the first round. The Giants traded back up in last week’s NFL Draft and selected Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss – and the plan is the same.

Schoen said he and Brian Daboll, who was the Bills’ offensive coordinator from 2018-21, are taking the same approach with Dart as they did with Allen. Of course, the goal is it will go differently this time, and Schoen noted the caliber quarterbacks in the Giants’ quarterback room compared to Buffalo’s in 2018.

“We’ve been through this, we went through it with Josh Allen,” Schoen said, via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra. “We had a little bit different quarterback room at the time, but he was going to sit his rookie year and then halftime of the opening game we’re getting smoked by Baltimore, so we put him in and the rest was history. So that plan didn’t go as well, but we didn’t have a Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston in the room.

“So again, Jaxson’s going to come in, he’s got to learn the offense, there’s a lot to learn, these NFL offenses are hard to grasp and pick up and then be able to go out and execute, so the ability for him to learn and sit behind two consummate pros already will be beneficial for him.”

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Jaxson Dart

Dart put together a decorated career at Ole Miss after transferring from USC. He became the program’s all-time leader in passing yards, breaking Eli Manning’s previous record. In 2024, he led the nation with 10.8 pass yards per attempt while totaling 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns.

The physical traits are impressive, as well, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. Dart’s ability to make plays with his legs – while avoiding the “running quarterback” label – as well as his big arm were sure to stand out to teams during the evaluation process.

“Three-year SEC starter who saw improvement in play and production season after season,” Zierlein wrote. “Dart has a stocky build and average physical attributes but good makeup and intangibles. He’s fairly accurate and rarely overcomplicates things for himself. He won’t strike anyone as a running quarterback, but he can find tough yards on the ground.

“He can make full-field reads but looks more comfortable grazing from the trough of the simple. He will need to work with better anticipation and decisiveness to win in tight windows as a pro. Teams might see physical and play similarities between Dart and Brock Purdy but such a pathway for Dart likely requires a balanced, ball-control passing attack that allows him to manage the game instead of driving it.”