‘Pitiful NFL franchise’ – Fans rage as Giants slide down draft order after Jaxson Dart’s Mahomes-like magic

The New York Giants refuse to tank.

With two wins in the final two games of an already lost NFL season, the struggling franchise has played itself far away from the No. 1 draft pick in 2026.

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A victory against the Las Vegas Raiders in a historically bad match-up last Sunday meant next year’s top prospect was almost certainly heading to Sin City, and a surprise result in Week 18 confirmed it.

The Giants won 34-17 against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium, and finish 2025 with a 4-13 record.

Instead of having one of the top picks in next year’s draft, New York could slip to seventh in the order, depending on other scores.

The Raiders, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals are all going to pick before the Giants.

A big win in the Week 18 finale was inspired, in part, by Jaxson Dart.

The rookie quarterback threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, and provided a moment of magic for one of those scores.

Jaxson Dart pulls off Patrick Mahomes impression in Giants win

With time ticking away in the second quarter, Dart avoided a sack and while off-balance, flipped the ball to Daniel Bellinger.

The tight end then danced through six tackles as he cut across the field en-route to the end zone.

It was a spectacular moment of improvisation, one that fans have come to expect from an all-time great QB like Patrick Mahomes.

The Giants then pushed on from there to down the Cowboys by a big score.

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While Dart and the offense shone, some fans were still surprised that New York didn’t tank in Week 18 for a higher draft pick.

Fans react as Giants slide down draft order

“Giants would be a Super Bowl contender if every game was a must-lose for draft position,” one joked on X.

“There is not a roster in NFL history that could beat a bad Giants team in the last two weeks of the season,” another said.

“Giants were the first team eliminated from the playoffs and won’t even have a top 5 pick,” a third claimed.

“Players don’t tank or lose on purpose — I know that. But if I’m a Giants fan, I’m losing my mind over how the last two years have gone with their draft pick slot,” a fourth said.

“The New York Giants is about as pitiful of an NFL franchise their has ever been. Losing their draft draft stock just to win a meaningless game. Embarrassing,” a fifth claimed.

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Despite a strong finish, it’s been a turbulent year for the Giants.

While they have found their new franchise quarterback in Dart, and a star rookie running back in Cam Skattebo, the team has still racked up more losses than many anticipated.

Head coach Brian Daboll was fired in November after a 2-8 start, and things didn’t get much better in the weeks that followed.

That’s why, heading into a Week 18 finale against the Cowboys, New York (3-14) still has a chance to land the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft.

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But that isn’t how things worked out, and the front office will now turn its full attention to a head coach search.

A higher draft pick would no doubt have been a bonus for any incoming candidate.

Who could be the new head coach of the Giants?

While the regular season has reached a conclusion, the coaching carousel will soon begin to spin.

There have already been a number of names linked with landing in New York, including Kevin Stefanski.

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An offensive-minded coach who has already built plenty of respect as a play-caller for the Cleveland Browns, Stefanski would be a brilliant fit for the Giants, should he become available.

Other names like Mike McCarthy, the former Cowboys and Green Bay Packers HC, and Antonio Pierce, who was fired by the Raiders 12 months ago, are said to be in the frame.

A crop of current NFL defensive coordinators — Chris Shula, Jesse Minter, Lou Anarumo, Jeff Hafley — are also said to be on New York’s shortlist.

The Giants have cast their net wide, and the offseason work is set to begin in the coming days.

If everything works out, New York will be looking to clinch a playoff spot, rather than battle for the No. 1 draft pick next season.

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