Jaxson Dart arrived at Giants minicamp as the new kid learning the ropes. He’s leaving it with more eyes on him than anyone expected.
The 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, Dart was supposed to ease his way in behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Instead, he’s been quietly climbing. Over the last week, he’s moved into second-team reps, dipped into the first-team huddle, and ended his spring with a throw that made everyone pause.
“He’s aggressive, he’s smart, and he’s gotten better every single day,” head coach Brian Daboll said to ESPN. “You want that mindset in a young quarterback.”
A Touchdown, a Message, and Maybe a Preview
Tuesday’s final minicamp session might have said more than words. On his last rep of the spring, Dart stepped up in the pocket and dropped a perfect touchdown pass down the sideline to undrafted rookie Dalen Cambre. Clean pocket, decisive read, beautiful ball.
“All touchdowns we love,”Winston joked after practice. “That one definitely brought some juice.”
Dart started the spring running with the third team. Daboll shuffled him into every possible scenario-sometimes calling plays with the starters, other times leading rookies and backups. The goal? Test his adaptability. So far, he’s passed.
“He’s had to call plays in front of guys who’ve been doing it for a decade,” Daboll said. “Then we drop him into a different group and make him lead. It’s the kind of mix that tells us who’s really absorbing the system.”
Quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney praised Dart’s prep habits and poise. “He’s approached it exactly like a pro. That’s not a guarantee with rookies.”
Russell Wilson is still firmly in control of the Giants’ starting job, and that won’t change this summer. He was brought in to lead now. But Dart’s rapid growth is giving the coaching staff something to think about beyond 2025.
For now, the Giants are just watching. The preseason will be the next test-and it’s a safe bet people will be paying attention when No. 5 takes the field.
“He’s earned every look he’s gotten,” Daboll said. “And he’s not done yet.”
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