Exclusive: Eli Manning on Jaxson Dart, Giants’ Draft Needs, and Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame Honor

Eli Manning is a big fan of the New York Giants' new franchise quarterback, Jaxson Dart.

Manning knows a thing or two about succeeding in the Big Apple, winning two Super Bowls while defeating the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots. Dart recently completed his rookie season, finishing as a runner-up in the process after a productive first year. Dart posted 24 combined touchdowns against just five interceptions.

Some of the best advice the two-time Super Bowl champion has passed off to Dart is about remaining "calm and collective" in games. 

While Dart finished 4-8 in his rookie season, he'll have plenty of time to apply that advice moving forward in his Giants career.

"Yeah, proud of Jaxson, how he handled this first year, and definitely earned the respect of his teammates, his coaches and people in the Giants facility," Manning told SportsBoom.us. 

"He seems very calm and collective. He seems very comfortable in the pocket and making throws or buying time or scrambling around. That's a great quality to have, too obviously, when things are wide open, take it. If things aren't open, hang in there, run around, make your plays and run. Get down, slide a little bit more. But he does a great job of staying in the pocket, moving around and making some big plays. That's a great quality to have."

Manning On What Giants Should Do With No. 5 Draft Pick

The Giants have several building blocks on offense. Outside of Dart, they have Malik Nabers, who posted a Pro Bowl campaign during his rookie year, along with running back Cam Skattebo, who turned in a promising rookie campaign before a season-ending dislocated ankle injury. 

New York will pick No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and many mock drafts have the Giants projected as picking a wide receiver, with Ohio State Buckeyes WR Carnell Tate considered the top wideout in the draft.

Manning agrees with the notion that the Giants should select a wide receiver with the No. 5 pick.

"I definitely agree that they probably need a true No.2 to go with Malik Nabers," said Manning. 

"Some of the best offenses are doing that high powered. I don't know if they need to do that in the draft, or it kind of depends on free, agency. I wouldn't mind if there's a good free agent receiver that could be that No. 2, kind of that 1B almost." 

"But the guy who could for Nabers to have to have that veteran guy, who's had success and knows what to do and how to get open," Manning continued. 

"And just kind of some of those little nuances to be an elite receiver, I think that would be helpful for him."

Drew Brees Making The Pro Football Hall Of Fame Over Him

One of the big storylines leading into Super Bowl LX week is none other than the fact that Manning missed the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second straight year. 

While the two-time Super Bowl champion missed out on the cut, his former NFC rival, Drew Brees, made it on his first ballot.

Brees won Super Bowl XLIV over the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts and finished second all time in touchdowns and passing yards. 

He also won Offensive Player of the Year twice and led the league in passing yards seven times, along with four times in passing touchdowns.

"I looked at my phone and I had two numbers for Drew Brees, which one of these will it be," said Manning. 

"I kind of sent a text out to some pals to figure out which number is the right one, but will definitely send Drew a congratulatory text. I haven't seen him in person yet, but very deserving. Drew is an unbelievable competitor and player in San Diego, and then of course his time in New Orleans, where they were putting up great numbers and the high- powered offense leading into the Super Bowl. So proud of him, and he's very deserving to be in the Hall of Fame."

When asked what was Brees' best trait, Manning it was his ability to throw on seam routes.

"I think he just kind of had an ability to push the ball down the field just throwing seam routes," said Manning of Brees. 

"I don't think anyone threw more seams than he did. But also the ability to get the ball to the running back accurately, just hitting Darren Sproles and these guys out of the backfield accurately. Just taking the deep, finding the best matchups, depending on what the defense was doing their coverage. You get the ball through to the open guy, hitting them in stride, and getting the ball out and making big plays in the passing game," he concluded.