​Jaxson Dart is currently the public face of the New York Giants, yet if the franchise ever explored trading him, what kind of value would he command on the open market? ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has Dart pegged as a potential recipient of a future first-round pick in his analysis of which players could realistically draw such a return from interested teams, and how many assets they might warrant in a swap.
Dart showed enough during his rookie season to maintain a first-round trajectory after the Giants selected him 25th overall last year, though there are genuine concerns about his durability given the number of hits he absorbed as a rookie. He did manage to share the field with his two most important offensive teammates, wide receivers Thomas and Malik Nabers, for a total of 17 snaps. Those limited opportunities, in what could have been a boost to his passing numbers, yielded a 76.2 QBR across that tiny sample.
Barnwell also evaluated rookie guard Francis Mauigoa as someone who could be worth “one first-round pick” alongside Dart. The Giants chose Dart at No. 25 in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he began his NFL career with a strong impression, establishing himself as a promising dual-threat quarterback with potential All-Pro upside.
Still, a single first-round pick might be a conservative estimate for Dart’s value if he meets or exceeds offseason expectations and projections for the next season, which could include approaching 4,000 passing yards and helping push the Giants to a surprising run within the NFC East. In other words, Dart’s value could realistically be higher than a solitary first-round selection should he show continued development and consistency.
Barnwell also rated rookie linebacker Arvell Reese and left tackle Andrew Thomas as players who could command “one first-round pick and more.” Thomas, given his level of play at a premium position and at age 27, would be a highly attractive asset if he could stay healthy. However, injuries have kept him from delivering a prolonged, uninterrupted stretch of high-level play, with only one fully healthy season over the past five years. That durability uncertainty would naturally complicate any trade negotiations and the decision to pay Thomas as a premier left tackle on his next deal.
Finally, Barnwell assessed second-round edge rusher Abdul Carter as the Giants’ most valuable asset, suggesting he could be worth “two first-round picks.” Carter logged four sacks as a rookie, but his quarterback-hurt and hurry numbers imply a much higher ceiling for Year 2. Carter may have been the top prospect in the 2025 draft, following a standout season at Penn State that included 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. While he must improve against the run in 2026, his impact as a pass rusher could be substantial.
There was one other Giants player who narrowly missed the cut for this evaluation. The injury to Nabers in 2025—an ACL and meniscal injury suffered in a late-September win over the Chargers—casts a long shadow over his immediate availability and impact. It remains unclear whether Nabers will be ready for the start of the season, given the typical recovery timeline for ACL tears. The hope is that Nabers recovers to deliver the breakout potential glimpsed before the injury; however, using Nabers as leverage in a trade scenario for a first-round pick would be difficult to justify given the medical and rehabilitation uncertainties.
In sum, Dart’s value is rooted in a blend of upside, durability concerns, and the surrounding roster context. If he continues to develop and approaches the 4,000-yard passing mark while steering the Giants to meaningful victories, a first-round return could be within reach—though the market will likely demand more if his health, consistency, and long-term projection continue to trend positively.