The New York Giants didn’t bet big on a quarterback this past offseason, and that decision already appears to be paying off. Instead of handing $40 million to Justin Fields like the NY Jets did, they went the conservative route, signing veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to short-term, team-friendly deals while drafting Jaxson Dart to develop.
It wasn't viewed as the most fun plan, but looking at what’s happening across town to their little brother, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Fields, who was linked to the G-Men early in the offseason, is now riding the bench in New York after an 0-6 start. Gang Green's offense was lifeless again in Week 7, with Fields getting pulled at halftime after managing just 46 yards through the air. For a team that paid up expecting upside, it’s looking more like a dead end.
Meanwhile, Dart has given Big Blue exactly what it was hoping for — hope. At the very least, he's made this team watchable again. Gone are the predictable losses. The 22-year-old gives the G-Men a chance every time he takes the field. That’s more than can be said about what’s happening in green and white. Even compared to Wilson's three starts, it's clear he's not it:
Jaxson Dart | Justin Fields | Russell Wilson | |
|---|---|---|---|
Starting record | 2-2 | 0-6 | 0-3 |
Completion percentage | 60.2% | 63.7% | 58.9% |
Yards | 791 | 845 | 786 |
Touchdowns | 7 | 4 | 3 |
Interceptions | 3 | 0 | 3 |
QBR | 59.7 | 36.5 | 32.1 |
Passer rating | 89.3 | 91.1 | 78.2 |
Giants already look smart for passing on Justin Fields experience
This isn’t about puffing out chests over a .500 Dart start, or two more wins than the Jets. The Giants have plenty to clean up, and nobody’s pretending they’re contenders yet. But they avoided a move that would’ve boxed them in — something they're all too familiar with — and that has to count for something.
Instead of tying themselves to Fields and forcing the fit, they left the door open for Dart to grow into the job. Funny enough, we saw this coming from a mile away during training camp.
And he has. Not perfectly, but with enough electric flashes to justify their plan. Wilson didn’t hold him off long, but he bought the 25th-overall pick the time he needed. Which was the whole point. And for the first time in a long time, the Giants might’ve finally handled the quarterback spot like a competent organization.
The former 11th-overall pick is flaming out spectacularly in Year 1 with Gang Green. You have to wonder at this point, if he can't even start for the lowly Jets, what team would be willing to take a flier on the 26-year-old?
Meanwhile, the Jets are on the hook for $40 million and already looking for answers in guys like Tyrod Taylor. Not exactly ideal. Fortunately, general manager Joe Schoen didn't force the issue with Fields and stuck to the script. Now it’s about giving Dart the runway and staying out of their own way.