NFL insider: New York Giants 'interested' in trading into late first round, targeting QB Jaxson Dart

The New York Giants hold the No. 3 overall selection in Thursday’s NFL Draft. The question remains — what will the franchise do with its first-round pick?

Draft Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders or another quarterback? Perhaps draft Abdul Carter and wait another season for their quarterback of the future? New York may be interested in securing both before the end of the night.

“They might [draft a quarterback],” ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio said on NFL Live inside the Giants facility ahead of Thursday night’s annual event. “But to pass on Abdul Carter at No. 3 would be professional malpractice in the words of many people around the National Football League. So then you look at where the Giants can take the quarterback of the future.

“Are they interested in moving out of No. 34 and jumping back into the bottom of the first round? Yes. Are they determined to do that? Not necessarily. Well-positioned to do it, but not yet determined to do it.”

Paolantonio called the 34th overall pick, which the Giants hold in the second round, prime real estate in the NFL Draft. But if Carter falls to them at No. 3 overall, he’s a player they can’t pass on. That leaves the Giants with an interesting decision to make with their second-round pick.

“I’m told the target is Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss,” he continued. “Brian Daboll, the head coach, loves the trace of Jaxson Dart. Reminds him a lot of Josh Allen, who he coached in Buffalo with the Bills. But at what price to go back in? If you’re sitting at 34 and you know the Steelers at 21 are interested in taking a quarterback, that means you have to jump up above the Steelers and get to No. 20.”

The Denver Broncos currently hold the No. 20 overall pick. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the Broncos to trade out of the first round for the right price, and trading back to No. 34 wouldn’t be the worst outcome for the Broncos, who are mainly looking to bolster their tight ends and running backs room.

For Dart, he has skyrocketed up NFL Draft boards during the pre-draft process, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the former Ole Miss standout hears his name called before the end of Thursday night. Whether that be in New York, Pittsburgh or elsewhere remains to be seen. Now, he’s set to become one of the first quarterbacks drafted into the NFL during this year’s event.