Most of the national talk surrounding quarterback Russell Wilson this spring has revolved around the New York Giants benching him for rookie Jaxson Dart, including when said benching is expected to happen.
But the honest truth, according to long-time NorthJersey.com beat reporter Art Stapleton, is that Wilson has been the “most impressive” offensive player that the Giants have on the roster this spring.
During a June 20 article, Stapleton elaborated on this unexpected turn of events, which he labeled a “surprise.”
“If offered the chance for a moment of absolute honesty without fear of retribution, countless observers of the Giants would very likely readily admit to this being their expectation during the spring workouts: It was going to only be a matter of time before Russell Wilson started looking like the washed quarterback critics promised he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season,” Stapleton began the article.
Continuing: “Well, here’s a surprise that revealed itself throughout the Giants’ offseason program, which concluded Wednesday as the team heads on summer hiatus prior to reporting for training camp on July 22: Not only does Wilson not look washed – he was the best offensive player on the field for two months, emerging as a leader the Giants desperately needed from the position and in the locker room for an entire roster to follow.”
Keep in mind that star wide receiver Malik Nabers did not play throughout the spring, and his presence should only help Wilson even more as he attempts to right the ship for Big Blue. Perhaps, the veteran will get a longer leash than many assume.
If Russell Wilson Is Performing, Rushing Jaxson Dart Makes No Sense for Giants
Wilson is no longer a franchise quarterback at age 36, but he’s still a former Super Bowl champion and 10-time Pro Bowler who led a below-average offense to the playoffs last year. Many would do well to remember that before they push the Giants to rush Dart into the starting role.
Yes, Dart is obviously the future, and assuming president and CEO John Mara signed off on a two-year plan that involved general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll finally developing a quarterback, the rookie will get his opportunity in 2026.
Having said that, there’s no reason to expedite Dart’s development before that if Wilson is playing well.
More than anything, the Giants need a season where they remain competitive in 2025. They owe it to their fans, but they also owe it to veteran members of the locker room like Dexter Lawrence, and they no longer need a top draft pick to land a new QB since they already have Dart.
Wilson gives them that, assuming Stapleton’s realization has merit, and the Giants should give him a real shot to keep the starting job past the halfway point of the season.
Giants Rookie QB Jaxson Dart Had Mixed Spring
While Wilson impressed, Dart went through the typical ups and downs of a rookie quarterback’s first spring.
Although this is somewhat expected, the key takeaway here is that the Ole Miss product is unlikely to burst onto the scene like Jayden Daniels. Nor was he expected to.
That doesn’t mean he’ll never make it in the NFL. Plenty of young quarterbacks take time to develop.
In fact, most do, and players like Daniels are the outliers rather than the bar.
Dart’s scouting report coming in was that he might be a bit of a project, and reporters have noted that he actually appears more ready than they thought, but there’s still a lot to learn.
So, let him learn. And, in the meantime, let Russell Wilson cook, one last time.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Russell Wilson Development Called ‘Surprise’ of Giants OTAs & Minicamp appeared first on Heavy Sports.