Ishika Samant | Getty
Head coach Brian Daboll and the New York Giants appear to have struck gold with their pair of first-round rookies.
Russell Wilson will lead the New York Giants‘ offense out onto the field against the Washington Commanders in Week 1, but if this summer is any indication, the veteran might find himself looking over his shoulder early and often this season.
After No. 25 overall pick Jaxson Dart‘s strong performence, the rookie quarterback is among the highest risers across the league this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
“Jaxson Dart made things interesting with his outstanding performance this preseason,” Dalton Wasserman writes of the Giants’ rookie, for PFF. “Dart’s 88.5 PFF passing grade across three outings led all rookies and ranked second among all qualifiers. His penchant for vertical completions and making throws under pressure both showed up often. Dart is far more likely to see playing time in the regular season than he was a month ago.”
Dart was terrific during the preseason, showing poise and confidence in head coach Brian Daboll’s system, effectively moving the offense both in uptempo situations as well as within the confines of the scheme, and seemed equally adept pushing the ball downfield as hitting his weapons on underneath routes on quick throws from the pocket.
Finishing the preseason with 372 passing yards and three touchdowns, Dart offered a glimpse of what could be a promising future for the Giants, while looking comfortable enough to perhaps force a conversation about the present, in the weeks ahead.
Giants’ Darius Slayton Continues to Be Impressed by Jaxson Dart
Sarah Stier | GettyRookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has been exceptional through the New York Giants’ preseason games.
Dart didn’t just put up explosive numbers and efficient film during the preseason, but he made a strong first impression on his teammates.
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton played through the end of Eli Manning’s career in New York, the beginning of Daniel Jones‘, and is optimistic and excited about what he saw from Dart throughout training camp and the preseason.
“He did a great job,” Slayton told reporters recently. “He learned fast, came on fast, played well fast, operated well in every game he played in, stayed away from mistakes, pretty much all together. Stayed away from any mistakes so he played about as clean as you can play.”
As Slayton has said in the recent past, there are some difficult concepts that a quarterback must quickly get comfortable with in order to master Daboll’s scheme, and Dart has been ahead of the curve.
“I think he’s definitely done a good job of learning,” Slayton explains “But I think he’s grown probably mostly in ways that are outside the game. I think he’s grown a lot in his routine, his habits and trying to lead when he can. He’s grown a lot in those areas which are some of the most important ones.”
With his poise, growth, and clean play, Dart looks every bit like the kind of quarterback who can accelerate the Giants’ future.
Matt Lombardo covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. Founder, NFL Insider for Between The Hashmarks and host of the Between The Hashmarks Podcast. A seasoned NFL reporter with over a decade of experience, he previously served as FanSided’s national NFL insider and host of “The Matt Lombardo Show” podcast. Past stops also include NJ.com and radio for 97.5 The Fanatic and 97.3 ESPN FM. More about Matt Lombardo
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