Jaxson Dart on Saints Passing on Him: 'Always a Chip on Your Shoulder'
Posted October 2, 2025
The Saints drafted offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the ninth overall pick and waited until the second round to select a quarterback, Tyler Shough, with the 40th overall pick. The Giants selected Jaxson Dart 25th overall.
Dart made his first start for the Giants on Sunday, a 21-18 upset of the Chargers, while Shough has seen only three snaps in mop-up duty.
The Giants play the Saints on Sunday, and Dart admits he hasn’t forgotten the quarterback-needy Saints passed on him. (Of course, the Giants passed on Dart, too, by picking defensive end Abdul Carter with the third overall pick.)
“There is always a chip on your shoulder any time something like that happens,” Dart said, via Jordan Raanan of ESPN. “But yeah, I’m just going to go out there and play as hard as I can.”
The Saints showed interest in Dart, who had multiple visits with the team in the pre-draft process. They had Dart believing he might end up in New Orleans.
“Yeah, I felt like my visit with them went good,” Dart said. “You kind of have thoughts in your head about what options are realistic, and I felt that was a place that could’ve panned out. But things didn’t work out that way.”
Dart ended up where he needed to be and where he most wanted to be.
“I love it here. There’s not a place that I’d rather be,” Dart said. “I love just how passionate people are outside the facility, in the facility. I like the attitude the East Coasters have. It’s a lot of fun. So I love it.”
The Cleveland Browns are once again making headlines, but this time, the drama isn’t on the field—it’s unfolding in the locker room. Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was recently passed over for the starting role in favor of Dillon Gabriel, sparked controversy with his unique and silent reaction to the team's quarterback change. Instead of offering a traditional comment, Sanders chose to respond with a non-verbal, mime-like gesture when approached by reporters, leaving many to wonder what his silent protest truly meant.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans and analysts speculating whether Sanders’ actions were a sign of frustration or a calculated move to highlight his discontent. The silence spoke volumes, especially after a season filled with high expectations for the talented rookie. Sanders, who had been considered a potential future star for the Browns, had to watch as Gabriel, a third-round pick, was given the starting nod, relegating Sanders to the third-string role. It wasn’t the opportunity he had anticipated when he was drafted.
This behavior contrasts sharply with the comments made by former NFL coach Rex Ryan, who questioned Sanders' maturity and preparedness. Ryan had previously criticized Sanders for being too outspoken in his pursuit of the starting job, urging the young quarterback to focus more on his development. Sanders' refusal to verbally comment during the interview may be his way of responding to these critiques—communicating that he is confident in his abilities, but perhaps unwilling to feed into the drama.
“I don’t need to say much,” Sanders later shared in a brief social media post. “Actions speak louder than words, and I’ll let my game do the talking. If they want me to start, I’ll be ready. But I’m not going to beg for it. I’ll earn it when my time comes.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski, while acknowledging the media frenzy, remains committed to his decision to start Gabriel. Stefanski defended the decision, reiterating the need for improvement across the board and ensuring that the competition for the starting job remains open.
"We need to all be better. We need to coach better, block better, catch better, run better — all of the above. We need to be better," Stefanski stated, emphasizing that the Browns’ offensive struggles extend beyond just the quarterback position. While Gabriel has secured the starting job for now, the situation remains fluid, with Sanders and veteran Joe Flacco still vying for playing time.
The Browns’ decision to start Gabriel over Sanders has split the fanbase. Some believe that Sanders’ actions are a bold statement of defiance, while others view it as unprofessional behavior from a player who still has much to prove. Sanders’ father, Deion Sanders, publicly expressed his support for his son’s reaction, commenting on social media, “Good one son. You did that” followed by a series of laughing emojis.
As the Week 5 game against the Minnesota Vikings looms, the Browns’ quarterback controversy will continue to be a focal point. Sanders, with his impressive skills and quiet determination, is biding his time. Whether his mime protest will propel him into the starting role remains to be seen, but for now, his silence is deafening in a season that has already been filled with drama and high stakes.
With the pressure mounting and the need for a consistent quarterback performance, the Browns will need to decide quickly who will lead them forward—and whether Sanders will have the opportunity to prove his worth in the coming weeks. The intrigue surrounding this situation is far from over.
