The New York Giants were stuck in neutral with Russell Wilson, and one start was all it took for Jaxson Dart to reignite the fanbase with the energy its been searching for. Brian Daboll's job was in jeopardy, and the first-round rookie managed to silence the doubters in Week 4–at least for now.
Even in the face of replacing a 10-time Pro Bowler under center, the 22-year-old wasted no time setting the tone in his NFL debut—in which Big Blue shockingly upset the Chargers 21-18. Dart went 13-of-20 for 111 yards and totaled two scores in the home upset over the unbeaten Chargers, but there are still skeptics as NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scataglia still ranked him 27th in his quarterback power rankings.
The only quarterbacks ranked behind him are Jake Browning, Cam Ward, Joe Flacco, Justin Fields, and Bryce Young, so like the rest of the NFL world, Scatagia wants to see sustained success from the former Ole Miss standout before truly buying in.
Jaxson Dart's NFL debut was the start of an exciting future in New York
Daboll handed the keys to the No. 25 overall pick sooner than anyone expected, and he quickly proved him right, making quick reads and doing magic on the ground against a formidable Jesse Minter-led defense. The best news was that Dart's dazzling performance and the Giants' victory have managed to save him and Joe Schoen's jobs for at least a little while longer.
Some fans remain undeterred, and it's not hard to understand why. After all, Daniel Jones threw for 336 yards and totaled four touchdowns in his first start as a Giant, and we all know how that story unfolded. That 2019 debut set the bar high, but unlike Jones, Dart didn’t light up the box score or immediately take the league by storm.
What he did do was just enough to secure New York’s first victory of the season, showcasing flashes of poise and promise, especially on the opening drive, while reminding fans that patience is still required. He managed the game efficiently and consistently demonstrated the decision-making and mobility that make him such a tantalizing prospect after a strong senior season in Oxford.
The most concerning part of Dart's debut was by no fault of his own. After suffering a knee injury in the second quarter, it was announced that star receiver Malik Nabers will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL— devastating Giants fans who were hoping to see the Dart-to-Nabers connection continue to develop. And even he got a little dinged up during the game.
While questions remain, Dart’s first start offered enough evidence to believe the Giants may have finally found their quarterback of the future. Scatalgia called the debut "as good as you can possibly expect from a rookie making their first start", but the real test is seeing how he fares without his WR1 and if he can continue to flourish against New York's tough schedule.