A new era is upon us in East Rutherford.
After an abysmal 0-3 start to the season, the Giants made a change for their future by benching veteran Russell Wilson in favor of 2025 first round pick Jaxson Dart. So far, Dart has brought some life back to a deflated fanbase that has been looking for something to hold onto.
After five weeks, the Giants sit at 2-3 with Dart, putting them at 2-6 on the season. Let’s break down the former Ole Miss Rebel’s play to see how he has played through five weeks.
One notable difference between Jaxson Dart and former starter Russell Wilson is what Dart does before the snap. Dart has identified what the defense will do at a much higher rate than Wilson, giving the Giants an opportunity to adjust to what the defense is presenting. These audibles have led to multiple chunk plays that continue drives, an area where the Giants have struggled under Brian Daboll.
Dart’s mobility has also been on display, as he has scrambled for 195 yards. This component to Dart’s game has allowed the Giants to call more designed quarterback runs – something that has been missing since their 2022 playoff run.
Despite these positives, Dart has struggled with consistency. In his first two starts, Dart started games fast, scoring multiple touchdowns in both first halves. However, the Giants offense stalled after these early drives, scoring just 7 more points in the second half of both games combined.
In addition, Dart has struggled with turnovers, especially against the Saints. He ended that game with one ugly fumble where he simply dropped the ball and had two interceptions. The interceptions were not completely on him, as one was tipped and the other was a miscommunication. Still, he certainly looked rattled after them.
There’s clearly tons of hype surrounding Dart; he seems to have the right tools and mentality to get better. However, the Giants’ roster might slow this process down. The Giants are severely shorthanded, with wide receiver Malik Nabers and rookie running back Cam Skattebo out for the year.
Joe Schoen has shown limited interest in adding another playmaker, which respectfully, makes zero sense. The Giants currently have Wan’Dale Robinson (average at best and obviously not a true number one guy), Darius Slayton (has struggled with drops for his entire career), and Lil’Jordan Humphery (practice squad receiver). These players are not good enough to help Dart develop.
Dart has shown signs that he could potentially be the next franchise quarterback for a team that has longed for one. Only time will tell if Dart can continue to expand on this opportunity.
