Jaxson Dart’s Burning Desire to Prove the Saints Wrong After Draft Snub Revealed

Jaxson Dart’s Week 5 matchup is shaping up to be more than just another game — it’s got all the makings of a personal vendetta. You can almost feel that simmering fire Dart’s carrying after the New Orleans Saints gave him a cold shoulder in the draft, despite multiple meetings and high hopes. Instead of grabbing him early, the Saints opted for Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9, leaving Dart to fall all the way to No. 25, where the Giants scooped him up. And as if that slight wasn’t enough, the Saints picked another quarterback, Tyler Shough, just a few slots later, making this upcoming duel a chess match soaked in “what ifs” and “almosts.” Dart’s embracing the challenge, telling ESPN he’s got a chip on his shoulder — and who wouldn’t after a draft night rollercoaster like that? But beyond the drama, his on-field prowess in Week 4, steering the Giants past an undefeated Chargers squad, tells you this rookie isn’t here just to play — he’s here to prove a point. And with the Saints struggling offensively and defensively, this game might just be the perfect stage for Dart’s revenge tour to kick off. LEARN MORE

When New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart takes the field in Week 5, he’ll have some extra motivation to pick up another win. Dart admitted he has a “chip” on his shoulder after the team’s opponent, the New Orleans Saints, passed on him in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Dart met with the Saints multiple times during the draft process. But when the team’s first-round pick came up at No. 9, it selected offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. instead.

Dart lasted until the No. 25 overall pick, when the Giants traded back into the first round to select him. The Saints responded by snagging a quarterback with their second-round pick, taking Tyler Shough at No. 40 overall.

While Dart is happy to be in New York, he still harbors some feelings about the way things went down in the draft, according to ESPN.

“There is always a chip on your shoulder any time something like that happens,” Dart said of how the draft unfolded with the Saints. “But yeah, I’m just going to go out there and play as hard as I can.”

If he performs as well as he did in his first start, Dart should have the Giants in a good spot. Dart was impressive in Week 4. The rookie completed 13 of 20 attempts for 111 yards and one passing touchdown. He also rushed for 54 yards and a rushing touchdown during the outing.

That was enough to lead the Giants to their first win in 2025. It wasn’t an easy matchup, either, as Dart took down the previously undefeated Los Angeles Chargers.

On paper, the Saints should be an easier matchup. The team sits at 0-4 though four weeks and hasn’t gotten things moving on offense. With Spencer Rattler under center, the Saints rank 28th in points scored. Despite those struggles, Shough has yet to see the field. The team is even worse on defense, where it ranks 30th in points allowed.

That should set up Dart for a nice revenge game in Week 5. While going out and putting up a strong statistical performance would likely be cathartic for Dart, merely leading the Giants to another win should be satisfying enough for the rookie.