The New York Giants might have the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, but fans haven't seen promise like this in quite some time. Even amid some coaching instability, Jaxson Dart has impressed in his rookie season to the point where he's more than affirmed he's the future of the franchise under center.
The first-round rookie's numbers won't blow you away, but he's stabilized the offense in ways that Daniel Jones never did. While his affinity for taking contact is a bit alarming, it doesn't change the fact that Big Blue struck gold and that the 22-year-old has a real case to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Giants pulled off a few victories during their Week 14 bye, and an extra week of rest for Dart could be what the doctor ordered. The schedule gets far easier over these final four games, so it's no surprise to see Ted Nguyen of The Athletic pencil in the youngster as one of the frontrunners for OROY.
Jaxson Dart's rookie season has elevated him to the top of the Offensive Rookie of the Year leaderboard
The most impressive thing about the Ole Miss product's rookie season is how he's stayed strong in the face of adversity. After both Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers went down for the season and Brian Daboll was fired, the deck was stacked against him, but that hasn't stopped Dart from balling out.
The 25th overall pick has shined while throwing to Wan'Dale Robinson, Theo Johnson, and Isaiah Hodgins, which sums up just how impressive he's been. And if he's doing this now, there's no telling what he can do with Nabers, Skattebo, and another first-round receiver with a new staff next season.
Moreover, his two best performances this season came against two of the best defenses in football, which has been a pleasant surprise. Both Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio are among the best defensive play-callers in football, yet neither of them had an answer for the capabilities of the 22-year-old.
However, while Nguyen thinks he'll end up winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, it's no guarantee. The race to win the award is incredibly tight, and he'll have to fend off a loaded class of impact players on offense.
- Tyler Warren is the perfect safety net amid Daniel Jones' breakout season with the Colts
- Emeka Egbuka is looking like the perfect successor to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa
- Quinshon Judkins has been the perfect Nick Chubb replacement for the Browns
- Tetairoa McMillan has been the perfect go-to target for Bryce Young in Carolina
The leg up that Dart has over the other rookies is the fact that he's a quarterback, and QBs always get more consideration for major NFL awards. That means that winning the award could serve as confirmation that New York is home to one of the brightest young passers in football.