When the Giants begin the 2026 season, all eyes are going to be on second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. After an impressive rookie campaign, everyone will want to see how Dart handles teams having tape on him and the defensive adjustments coordinators make to eliminate his skill set. Should he avoid the sophomore slump, it'll go a long way toward shifting how the league feels about the young gunslinger.
Mike Sando of The Athletic polled 50 executives and coaches for his annual QB Tiers list, and Big Blue's man under center came in at No. 24 in Tier 3. Now, a rookie being ranked in the third tier is more than fair. Dart is even ranked first among the five QBs making their debut in this piece, but there are cases to be made that he is still underrated throughout the league.
The critiques of Dart remain a broken record, with those polled claiming Dart won't change his style of play. Coaches and executives alike are afraid his running ability will ultimately cost him in the long run, and that he won't last long in the league. The guy who was an injury waiting to happen still played in 14 games in 2025. If players like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson can survive running the football in this league, why can't Dart?
Giants' revamped coaching staff will help silence Dart's critics
Dart's play style was also influenced by a head coach in Brian Daboll, who was doing everything he could to save his job. He did not care about Dart's health as long as it resulted in points. Now, Big Blue adds John Harbaugh to the mix to hopefully balance the running/passing mix of a dual-threat QB, like he did in Baltimore.
Additionally, bringing in Matt Nagy as the offensive coordinator will be a big help in limiting the recklessness of Dart's game. It wasn't a popular hire when it happened, but considering Nagy's experience with guys who have a good mix of killing teams with their arms and legs, like Patrick Mahomes, the hire makes sense.
Dart doesn't need to take the running. out of his arsenal, it's what helps make him so effective because teams know they have to worry about both.
But having a coaching staff that won't put him at risk because they're worried about a paycheck will help him grow as a passer and a more intelligent runner. The critiques make sense, but you have to consider the context surrounding Dart.
In 2026, Dart will prove those cirtiques are nothing to worry about.
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