The New York Giants, a $10.1 billion franchise, bet big when they drafted Jaxson Dart in the first round last year. However, this season is shaping up to end on a deeply disappointing and bitter note for the Giants organization. Right now, they sit at a 2-13 record as they gear up to take on the Raiders in their Week 17 matchup. Yet, even in this potential loss, there could be a silver lining waiting for them.

Right now, the Giants hold the first overall pick for the 2026 draft. If they lose to the Raiders this week, they stay atop that chart and lock in the top spot. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport has made it clear that this would push general manager Joe Schoen to look at all possible options for the franchise’s future. That evaluation could zero in on one standout name: Fernando Mendoza.

“There also is a chance that the Giants lose, which means the Giants could have the number one overall pick. Expect them to evaluate all options, including looking at Fernando Mendoza, before they make a decision on how they’re going to proceed if they have this pick,” Rapoport reported.

That evaluation has elevated Mendoza from contingency option to active target inside the Giants’ draft process.

Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and consensus top quarterback prospect from Indiana who has shot up draft boards and is widely viewed as a possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, would represent a potential franchise‑changing option if the Giants land the top selection.

However, the quarterback firing up the record charts in Indiana has a power-packed offensive line around him. Indiana’s offense ranks fourth with 41.9 points per game and eighth in total yards per game with 472.8. 

The same can’t be said for the Giants’ offense. It ranks 18th with just 342.2 yards per game. So, it would be bold enough for the franchise to bet on another quarterback rather than building around Dart. That kind of move raises real questions about Dart’s future in New York.

Is Jaxson Dart’s game crashing under Kafka’s watch?

Dart started strong when he took over in Week 4. He secured two wins in three weeks, giving fans a glimpse of hope. But then the season went downhill fast, with no comebacks to save the day. To steady all this chaos, former head coach Brian Daboll was fired, and interim head coach Mike Kafka took over. Still, Dart’s numbers since then tell a different story.

The rookie quarterback’s performance has dipped sharply after Daboll’s exit and his Week 10 concussion. Last week against the Vikings, he played his second touchdown-free game of the season. On top of that, he’s thrown two interceptions over the last three weeks and taken eight sacks. Still, Kafka has a different take on those numbers.

“I don’t see it that way. I think every game will be different. How we play each game will be different. How we think what’s going to help us win the game is going to be different each week… So, I don’t see that as a regression for Jaxson. Sure, maybe the numbers aren’t what they used to be. But I think he’s playing well,” Kafka said Monday.

That being said, if the Giants’ front office goes with drafting a quarterback like Mendoza, the trade chatter around Dart catches fire. This trade chatter is significant as Dart is on a four-year, $16.9 million rookie contract, with a cap hit of almost $4 million and a dead cap of $13.8 million next year. With that financial flexibility and a top pick in hand, New York could pivot fast.