New York Giants fans had been waiting months to see Jaxson Dart in live action, and the 34-25 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills gave them their first look. The first-round rookie stepped in after Russell Wilson’s opening drive and immediately started moving the offense. It wasn’t flawless, but for a guy taking his first NFL snaps, it was exactly the kind of debut fans were hoping for.
Related: 4 telling observations from Jaxson Dart's preseason showing vs the Bills
This is why the G-Men traded back into the first round to grab him. He’s here because the team sees him as the future, and if Saturday was any indication, that future’s already looking good. He was poised, accurate, and showed just enough mobility to make the defense pay when the pocket collapsed.
It wasn't all that long ago that Shedeur Sanders could’ve been that guy. New York was all over him during the pre-draft process before things reportedly went sideways in a meeting with Brian Daboll. Sanders ended up falling to the fifth round and landing with the Browns, while Big Blue made its move for Dart. And according to CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan, it didn't take long for that decision to pay off.
Jaxson Dart takes early rookie QB crown over Shedeur Sanders in preseason debut
Sullivan ranked every rookie quarterback performance from Week 1 of the preseason, and Dart landed at No. 1, ahead of Sanders at No. 2. When speaking about Dart's performance, Sullivan said:
"In all, Dart was in the driver's seat for three scoring drives on his four first-half possessions. Dart looked comfortable in the pocket, made tight window throws, and when the pressure started to get home, he showed off his mobility with 24 yards on the ground."
Dart’s numbers speak for themselves: 12-of-19 passing for 154 yards, one touchdown, and 24 rushing yards. The 28-yard touchdown strike to Lil’Jordan Humphrey was the highlight... a perfectly placed ball delivered while taking a hit.
Sanders had a strong showing too, going 14-of-23 for 138 yards and two touchdowns in his Browns debut. He played almost three full quarters and made some nice throws on the move. There's no denying Sanders looked good. And with so many variables due to it only being the preseason, it's a near impossibility to truly say who was objectively better. But we're here for it.
What Big Blue Nation does know is that their 22-year-old rookie put on an absolutely electric performance, all while not looking remotely like a finished product. He still has a long way to go, but it's clear his floor is a lot higher than people thought. Dart and Sanders will be forever tied together, and it's New York's job to continue climbing the ladder of validation.
Nobody’s saying Dart should start Week 1, but when the rookie you drafted over a guy you heavily scouted comes out and looks does just as good, if not better, it’s hard not to feel validated about the decision. And we're not the only ones taking notice.