Big Blue View
There are few jobs in sports that come with brighter lights or more pressure than being the quarterback of the New York Giants.
Regardless of the sport, the New York media market is a fishbowl, complete with a ravenous — and occasionally rabid — press and passionate fanbases. There really aren’t any sights grander than a ticker tape parade through the Canyon Of Heroes, nor are there many tougher spots if a player or coach finds themselves on the wrong side of the fans and media.
That’s the environment in which Jaxson Dart finds himself after the Giants traded up to make him the 25th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Dart does have a bit of a grace period, as veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are still between him and the starting job. But still, everyone knows that the job will be Dart’s eventually and that he’s the quarterback of the future.
The bright lights will be his, whenever he’s ready.
Saturday he’ll take the first step toward becoming the Giants (eventual) starter, when he takes the field against the Buffalo Bills. We don’t know exactly when Dart will play, nor do we know exactly how many snaps he’ll get — though Brian Daboll confirmed that he’ll definitely be playing against the Bills.
However many snaps he does get, this will be Dart’s first taste of real NFL action.
“I’m excited. This is just the start of a dream of mine so I’m excited to take that next step, be out there, compete at the highest level,” Dart said. “My family’s going to be there so I’m super excited to have them a part of this journey with me and yeah, I think that’s really it. I’m just stoked for the opportunity.”
Fellow first-rounder Abdul Carter told reporters that the Giants veterans spoke to the rookies, imparting some wisdom before the first preseason game.
“The main point was football is football,” Dart said. “Obviously, you’re taking a next step so it’s a little bit more advanced and just little details and schematics and whatnot.”
Whether Dart can handle the sophistication of a pro offense was one of the big concerns in his pre-draft evaluation.
Overall, the rookie believes that he’s making good progress.
“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” he said. “My understanding of the game, my understanding of just this offense specifically, but I’ve been able to take big steps and I’m feeling more and more confident each and every day in this offense and kind of what they’re asking me to do.”
“This is the only NFL offense I can really compare it to so it’s all that I know of at this moment,” he added. “You hear people say that, but I think that when you’re kind of able to get the base fundamentals of it down, then you’re able to just obviously grow your knowledge and what not. There’s been long nights of just studying and sitting in my room and just trying...
