Jaxson Dart wasn’t long removed from the Giants preseason victory over the Jets, another impressive outing where the rookie scored a pair of touchdowns, when Brian Daboll made his way over. This couldn’t wait. Daboll interjected as Dart was mid-conversation with a reporter. He extended his hand, then looked him dead in his eyes.
“I love you,” the coach said.
No emotion. No smile. Just those three words.
“I love you, too,” Dart responded.
Then Daboll walked away.
Russell Wilson should start for the Giants in Dallas. New York boasted all offseason about its bullet-proof quarterback plan — to win in the present with the veteran, while readying the rookie for the future. To abandon that after one week, no matter how inept the offense looked in its 21-6 loss to the Commanders, would send such horrific signals.
But plans change. And if Wilson’s anemic play continues in the first quarter and the second, then Daboll cannot hesitate to make the switch. His infatuation with his hand-picked passer is cemented in logic. He knows Dart is the key to everything he hopes the Giants can become.
So don’t wait. This needs to be Dart’s show the second half on.
It was a curious decision the Giants made this offseason. Not in signing Wilson — once they awoke from the Matt Stafford (returned to Rams) and Aaron Rodgers (signed with Steelers) pipe dreams, he was the best choice to replace Daniel Jones. It was that Wilson was… the only real change to the offense.
The Giants were horrible in 2024. They finished averaging 294.8 yards per game (30th) in the NFL and 16.1 points (31st). The only reason both metrics aren’t dead last, and also why the Giants weren’t in a position to draft Cam Ward first overall, is because of Drew Lock’s out-of-the-blue, five-touchdown effort in New York’s 45-33 victory over the Colts.
That would almost always evoke wholesale changes. Not with the Giants. They brought back 10 of 11 starters – Wilson the lone exception. They handed play-calling back to Mike Kafka (after Daboll took it from him because of similar inefficiencies in 2023). James Hudson is technically new at left tackle, but only because Andrew Thomas is still on the mend.
New York exuded a confidence all summer as if the team knew something the rest of the league did not. It was burst in inglorious fashion in the opener. Wilson went 17 of 37 (45.9 percent) passing for 168 yards. The line allowed eight quarterback hits and two sacks. The Giants did not score a touchdown.
The problems were not all because of Wilson. But he didn’t make anything better, either. So if the struggles continue, Daboll cannot be afraid to give the team a jolt with Dart.
The 22-year-old Dart was supposed to be green. Scouts, executives and more shared that evaluation to SNY leading into the draft. People loved his demeanor, moxie and raw talent. The keyword there: Raw. It was going to take time to acclimate to the NFL. Only, it hasn’t.
General manager Joe Schoen said before the season Dart was a bit of an anomaly with how quickly he was able to apply Daboll’s classroom lessons to the field. It clicked in both places. As camp went on, Dart got better and better. In the preseason, he was spectacular.
In three games he completed 32 of 47 passes (68 percent) for 372 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran for 52 yards and another score. He was aggressive, but poised. He rallied his team. His first touchdown, a strike to Lil’ Jordan Humphrey in the preseason opener against the Bills, came when he stood tall in the pocket knowing he was about to get smacked.
The Giants believe they have something special in Dart. They also believe he’s ready to play – that’s why they named him the backup quarterback over Jameis Winston. There’s no place for hesitancy anymore.
This isn’t some foreign concept. The Commanders, sources confirmed to SNY, spent time watching film of the rookie quarterback in case he was put in the game in the opener. The Cowboys, sources told SNY, have done exactly the same. They’re preparing for both Wilson and Dart and expect to see the Ole Miss product if the Giants fall behind early.
That’s because Dart brings something Wilson does not. There was a time the longtime Seahawk was among the most aggressive and talented quarterbacks in the league. Sources told SNY that the 36-year-old Wilson, in his older age, appears apprehensive to take chances in games. He dinks and dunks, stares at the rush. He’s getting to his checkdown if the first read isn’t there. These were issues during his two years in Denver, one with Pittsburgh, and first game with the Giants.
You don’t worry about that with Dart. He’s the aggressive player Daboll has longed for since the Giants named him coach. He’ll take his chances. He’ll move with his legs. He’ll give his receivers a chance to make plays.
Instability terrifies John Mara. It’s among the reasons he brought Daboll and Joe Schoen back after their 3-14 season. Mara previously talked openly about how the Giants did everything they could to ruin Jones by changing coaches, offenses and more during his tenure with the team. He doesn’t want to do the same with Dart. That gives the man who coaches him a longer leash than most in his position would have.
But Mara cannot handle his team remaining a laughingstock The Giants have the worst record in the NFL since 2017. A five-win campaign behind the arm of a former great saves no one.
Promise from a rookie does. Everyone knows that – Daboll, too.
Dart’s ready. So if Wilson isn’t getting the job done, give the rookie the ball in the third quarter.
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