Jaxson Dart’s preseason showing has made it impossible for New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll to not consider moving the rookie quarterback up on the depth chart from an initially expected No. 3 position to No. 2.
“We’ll see,” Daboll said when asked if the 22-year-old could start the 2025 season as Russell Wilson’s main backup.
Dart, whom the Giants moved up in the draft to take No. 25 overall out of Ole Miss, has shown a limitless ceiling in three preseason showings, completing 32-of-47 passes (68.1%) with three passing touchdowns and one rushing score.
“He’s got some moxie to him,” Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said. “I mean, it’s just really exciting out there watching him play. It looked like he was all in command and knowing exactly where he needed to go with the ball. A couple of the older receivers, we were talking, we were like, ‘This is going to be a pretty good quarterback once he knows exactly all the checks and knows everything going on.’ It’s going to be really, really exciting for him.”
Dart’s preseason has seemingly put him ahead of schedule. He was supposed to sit the entirety of the 2025 season out behind Wilson, who signed a one-year deal as New York’s bridge starter, and Jameis Winston, the highly-regarded veteran backup who has been an invaluable addition in changing the culture of Big Blue’s quarterback room.
But he has been outperformed by Dart in the preseason, as he completed 17-of-30 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick. Even if he were to fall to No. 3 on the depth chart, the Giants have no interest in trading him.
Slotting in as the No. 2 passer on the depth chart would ensure Dart makes his NFL debut earlier than expected should Wilson either struggle or get hurt. It is a mantle that will ultimately be his in due time. Dart is expected to be the franchise quarterback of the future, after all.
