In the chaos of draft weekend, most NFL rookies dream of one thing: hearing their name called. But sometimes, it’s the messages after the draft that hit harder than any selection announcement. For Marcus Mbow, the Purdue offensive tackle drafted by the New York Giants, it wasn’t just Roger Goodell’s voice that made the moment unforgettable—it was a text from a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. And when your mom is fangirling over Ciara at the same time? You know you’ve officially made it.

With a total of seven picks, Russell Wilson‘s Giants made their intentions for the 2025 season crystal clear. First the Giants picked Abdul Carter in Round 1, then shocked the world by doubling down, selecting Jaxson Dart later in the same round—ultimately snubbing Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders. (Sanders would eventually get drafted by the Browns with the 144th overall pick in Round 5.)

But getting back to the Giants, they also drafted a versatile offensive tackle—and surprisingly, the prospect’s mom sent a heartfelt message to Wilson himself. After picking up Carter and Dart in Round 1, Joe Schoen’s team added defensive tackle Darius Alexander in Round 3. Meanwhile, Marcus Mbow from Purdue was still waiting for his name to be called, uncertain of where he would land. That changed in Round 5, when Roger Goodell announced: “With the 154th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the New York Giants select Marcus Mbow, offensive tackle, Purdue.”

There may have been no one happier in that moment than Marcus Mbow’s mom, Beth Mbow. She immediately sent a message to Russell Wilson after the Super Bowl champion showed love for Marcus’s selection. First, Wilson had reposted the Giants’ announcement on X (formerly Twitter), congratulating Marcus. Then Beth Mbow replied with a message that warmed hearts across Giants Nation: “Hey Russell! Marcus’s mom here! We are all so thrilled that Marcus will be playing with you. Thanks for the call today! I am the biggest fan of your wife, btw!! I’ve been loving Ciara since my 20’s!”

Wilson responded with equal warmth: “Of course! Excited to play with him & the rest of the fellas! Go @Giants! And yes, hard not to love CiCi! @ciara 💙” It was a touching exchange, and fans couldn’t like and share the interaction fast enough. A great day for Marcus Mbow—and a proud moment for a family that has been a lighthouse of support throughout his football journey.

But before Marcus was selected, April 24 had already turned into a dream day for another young man: Jaxson Dart.

Russell Wilson gets a young competitor to fight for the QB1 position

As everyone knows, the Giants had already raised eyebrows by signing both Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson earlier this offseason. That alone had fans and analysts asking: Who will start Week 1 for New York? And then, they added another wrinkle—by drafting Jaxson Dart in Round 1. “Quite honestly, this has just been something that I’ve expected since I was younger. I never saw my future playing out any differently,” Dart said confidently after his selection.

Looking at the numbers, Dart’s addition could pay off in a big way for the Giants. In the 2024 college season, he threw 29 touchdowns (his career high), completing 276 of 398 passes (69.3% completion) for 4,279 yards. Solid numbers for a first-round prospect. Analysts are cautiously optimistic. According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: “He can make full-field reads but looks more comfortable grazing from the trough of the simple.” Zierlein also noted, “Dart has a stocky build and average physical attributes.”

In other words: Jaxson Dart has plenty of room to grow—and the competitive fire to push Wilson and Winston for playing time. If he can channel that mindset and refine his game, the critics will be the ones eating their words.