Much of the external offseason conversations involving Jaxson Dart have typically involved two schools of thought.
Depending on who you ask, Dart is either a walking injury risk given his aggressive play style, or he showed enough during his rookie season to validate being a first-round pick. We typically didn’t see NFL analysts acknowledge that both possibilities can be true.
But with the regular season less than two weeks away, Dart has found himself added into the proverbial “breakout candidate” group chat.
Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab named Dart among the ten players he expects to make a significant jump. He was the only quarterback to make Schwab’s list, and it’s worthy of further discussion.
Should New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart be considered a “breakout” candidate?
We have admittedly been extremely critical of the national media’s Giants coverage this offseason, and Dart was a frequent target of pundits. So we feel it’s important to acknowledge that we don’t outright disagree with Schwab.
But Dart’s inclusion on Schwab’s list raises the question of what truly makes a “breakout” candidate. He started 12 games as a rookie and repeatedly impressed, though the most significant — and season-defining — issue was him being evaluated for a concussion at least five times.
Looking at the Giants’ roster, tight end Theo Johnson makes far more sense as a breakout candidate. We’ve seen plenty of Johnson through his first two seasons, but he’s the unquestioned No. 2 tight end behind Isaiah Likely. Daniel Bellinger reunited with Brian Daboll in Tennessee after being guaranteed $14 million.
Calvin Austin III’s season-ending knee injury and various questions about the Giants’ receivers only put added pressure on Likely and Johnson. The latter had 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns last year, and we expect him to remain one of Dart’s favorite targets.
You could also make a case for Deonte Banks, who thrived in Dennard Wilson’s defense throughout the summer and preseason. The 2023 No. 24 pick has made the most of a fresh start under a new coaching staff, and he’s expected to significantly factor into the Giants’ secondary plans.
With regard to quarterbacks, the Dolphins’ Malik Willis or the Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. feel like they’d perfectly fit Schwab’s list. Willis is getting his first true opportunity as a starting quarterback, and Penix Jr. is already bordering on bust territory.
And again, we’re not trying to call Schwab out, nor do we take issue with his commentary. With how negative other outlets have been about the Giants, it’s always refreshing to see someone opt for objectivity.
We want to hear from you. Should Dart be considered a breakout candidate, or are we reading too much into things? Let us know.
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