The 2025 NFL season could chart the course of the New York Giants‘ future.
Whether Jaxson Dart shows enough to prove capable of becoming a true franchise quarterback could determine whether general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll not only climb off the hottest seats across the league entering this season but are in place beyond it.
According to ESPN’s Louis Riddick, who is also a former NFL executive, the uncertainty surrounding Daboll and Schoen’s future hangs over the franchise’s long-term outlook and potential to contend.
“What will the coach/quarterback combination look like over the next three seasons?” Riddick writes of the Giants, for ESPN. “There is no bigger question/concern with the Giants going forward. Coach Brian Daboll has to strike a balance between winning games with Russell Wilson as the starter entering Week 1 while also developing Dart for the future. It’s a fascinating dynamic.”
New York checks in at No. 31 on ESPN’s Future Power Rankings, ahead of only the New Orleans Saints, and the open question over who will be building and coaching the roster beyond January is a significant one.
As Riddick points out, the tightrope Daboll must walk between showing progress and winning games in 2025 and evaluating Dart for a future beyond it is one with both competing means and ends but it might just hold the key to whatever the Giants’ future becomes beyond this season.
NFL Analyst Urges Jaxson Dart Patience for Giants
Bryan M. Bennett | GettyJaxson Dart made a strong case in his preseason debut to have the chance to compete for the New York Giants’ starting job.
In his preseason debut against the Bills, Dart flashed the traits that drew the Giants to trade back into the first round to select him No. 25 overall in this spring’s NFL Draft.
Dart’s pinpoint accuracy on a touchdown pass between defenders to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, alone, was enough to at least open the conversation about whether the former Ole Miss standout should have a chance to compete for the starting job against Russell Wilson the rest of the summer.
However, CBS Sports NFL analyst Jeff Kerr suggests the Giants should be patient with their rookie signal caller, despite his stellar performance in Buffalo.
“Wilson is the starting quarterback for Week 1,” Kerr writes for CBS. “But how soon will the Giants hand the keys over to Dart? The Giants early portion of the schedule is brutal, and it would be wise not to destroy Dart’s confidence — no matter how good he is. Dart may not get his opportunity until December (when the Giants bye week is), but could enter the starting role in November if the season really goes off the rails.
“If Dart plays earlier than expected, he’ll lead the Giants in passing yards this year. Let’s bank on the Giants being patient with Dart, as head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen’s jobs are on the line.”
While a 154-yard and one touchdown performance against the Bills isn’t nearly enough of a sample size to throw open a quarterback competition, the fact that Dart and the Giants’ second-team offense moved the ball so effectively when he was on the field makes the final two preseason games all the more intriguing.
“He’s improved since he’s been here,” Daboll told reporters, of Dart, after Saturday’s game. “Still have a long way to go, but I enjoy working with him. I like his demeanor on the sideline. He sees the game well. Again, not that we’re getting, we got a couple blitzes and things like that, but I’m glad he’s here.”
If Dart continues to prove that he is competent and can run the offense effectively, it will be fascinating to see how long Daboll and the Giants’ coaching staff remain committed to Wilson, given how much his performance dictates their future beyond 2025.
New York faces the NFL’s toughest strength of schedule, so there are few, if any, “soft landings” for Dart, so his performance rather than the perfect opportunity to ease him into being an NFL starter may play a huge factor in when the Giants decide to get him on the field.
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