Three weeks in, Brian Daboll is pulling the plug on Russell Wilson, turning to rookie Jaxson Dart in a bid to rescue the New York Giants’ season, and his own future.
Dart seemingly checked all of the boxes during a strong training camp and the preseason, and as Wilson floundered through an 0-3 start to the season by posting a meager 59.1 completion percentage with three touchdowns, three interceptions, three losses and a wildly inconsistent offense, Daboll and the Giants clearly believe Dart is both ready and the best path forward.
Not everyone is convinced, as one rival NFL Executive for a team that was in the market for a quarterback last spring questions if Dart is built to withstand the pressure of playing in New York and with such lofty stakes.
“How Dart handles adversity is something we noted,” an AFC scouting director told Between The Hashmarks. “Last year’s [Ole Miss] game against Florida was a complete meltdown mentally. And, Oxford is not New York.”
That afternoon in Gainesville, Dart threw two costly interceptions late in the game, including int he end zone on what would have been a game-tying touchdown for Ole Miss, in a brutal conference loss.
With the Giants, Dart is looking to stem the tide for a franchise that has just one postseason victory dating back to 2011, and a head coach who boasts a 9-27 dating back to the 2023 campaign.
“Jaxson is a good football player,” an NFL Pro Personnel Director told Between The Hashmarks. “He has an above-average arm, but he struggled some in decision-making under pressure. But, the thing you like is that he has all the physical tools.”
Chosen No. 25 overall in this spring’s NFL Draft, Dart’s mobility could unlock Daboll’s offense and his propensity for pushing the ball deep downfield could maximize playmaking wide receiver Malik Nabers in ways that Wilson was unable to through the season’s first three games.
Nabers has caught 16 passes for 251 yards and two scores, but Wilson hitting the second-year playmaker just twice for 13 yards against the Chiefs likely fast-tracked the veteran quarterback’s benching.
The Giants are hoping that Dart isn’t merely more of the same.
“He’s a talented athlete with flashes of arm talent,” the Scouting Director says. “He takes some chances and doesn’t have the arm strength to win all of those gambles.”
Whether Dart is the spark the Giants need or another gamble gone wrong, his debut will define where this season goes from here.
Giants’ Malik Nabers Preaches Consistency
GettyNew York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers.
Nabers is looking to rebound from one of the worst performances of his career, on Sunday night, and could become one of Dart’s favorite targets given his game-breaking speed and big-play ability.
However, the former LSU standout isn’t going to be changing much about his game or his preparation just because it’s now a rookie quarterback behind center for the Giants.
“Process is, I’ve got a job to do,” Nabers said, via a transcript from the team. “My job is to run routes, catch the ball no matter who’s throwing me the football. Like I said, the decision wasn’t up to me. Like I said, I’ve still got a job to do, go play football.”
Beginning Sunday against the Chargers, Nabers could become an even bigger piece of the puzzle for the Giants, and how Daboll schemes up those opportunities to get him the football on high percentages throws to build Dart’s confidence could prove critical.
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