When the New York Giants scooped up 35-year-old Russell Wilson on a one-year contract just days after signing Jameis Winston, the expectation was that he'd be the starter. Fast-forward through the 2025 NFL Draft, and even after trading back into the first round for Jaxson Dart, the expectation was Russ would be the starter — Daboll even confirmed so.
However, as the offseason program starts to really take shape and results can actually be measured, the once vice-gripped starting job doesn’t feel quite like the mortal lock for Wilson as it used to.
Blame it on the rookie. Dart has been impressive. Rookie minicamp and OTAs have proven to be enough of a sample size for fans and analysts alike to feel good about what's brewing in East Rutherford. However, we aren't the only ones taking notice and hopping aboard the hype train.
Brian Daboll heaps praise on Jaxson Dart ahead of mandatory minicamp
G-Men head coach Brian Daboll has been impressed early and often with Dart's progression. Ahead of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, Daboll spoke to the media before practice and provided the media with a pretty electric update on the rookie and his development:
"He's done excellent," Daboll said of Jaxson Dart. "He's picking up the information ... He's smart, he's aggressive with the football - which I like ... He's progressed since he's been here — to where he is now he's made good improvement."
Jaxson Dart has been "excellent" in the Giants' spring program, says Brian Daboll:
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) June 17, 2025
"He's smart, he's aggressive with the football - which I like...he's progressed since he's been here" pic.twitter.com/mMcZe7ndOK
Fans should be ecstatic by the news. After all, this team hasn't had a legitimate franchise signal-caller since the Eli Manning days. So while that's all good and well, there is the notion that Wilson might not be holding the reigns on the starting job for as long as we originally thought.
No one is saying Dart has progressed enough to be the starter on Day 1, but if he continues to improve at this unprecedented pace, who's realistically ruling out a start sooner rather than later? That leaves the Russ Bus in a peculiar spot, seeing as though he was supposed to be the one to help save the jobs of Joe Schoen and Daboll.
The irony of it all is that it's really Dart who's going to have a bigger say in the futures of those two than Wilson. If Daboll can prove to John Mara he's able to turn Dart into the franchise cornerstone the organization is hoping for, job security practically follows immediately. That's why when Daboll says Dart's making improvements, it's not just coach talk.
Russ will be under center on opening weekend. That we're (almost) 100 percent sure of. But don't be surprised if Dart ruins his party earlier than expected. Daboll doesn't come off as a "praise for praise sake" kind of guy. He means what he says. So this development might just quietly hint at