New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart’s trademark has always been his efficiency as a dual-threat quarterback. Unfortunately for Dart, that mindset already has him in an NFL analyst’s crosshairs.
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin ripped Dart on Tuesday, blasting him for playing with a “reckless physical style that frankly isn’t sustainable.” Doctors evaluated Dart for concussions at least five times as a rookie, and he missed two games as a result.
New coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy run an offense designed to take advantage of Dart’s passing and rushing skills. Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields both impressed as runners under Nagy in Kansas City and Chicago, respectively.
“Being more willing to play inside the structure of the offense will help him stay on the field, but will he be as productive a passer and runner if he does that?” Dubin wrote.
CBS Sports pointlessly put Jaxson Dart in a no-win scenario
So, to recap, here is where Dart evidently finds himself. If Dart continues playing how he did in college and as a rookie, he risks injury in a way that Dubin believes isn’t a successful long-term strategy.
But if Dart dials back and plays safer, Dubin appears skeptical that such a move would benefit both the player and team.
“He was better as a rookie when the play broke down, using his athleticism to extend the play by either running or finding someone in the scramble drill,” Dubin wrote.
Speaking candidly, Dubin may as well have written that he doesn’t view Dart as a viable franchise quarterback.
Yes, Dart can absolutely afford to throw it away rather than take off and try fighting for extra yardage. Harbaugh and Nagy likely wouldn’t call him out for the adjustment, either.
The Giants drafted Dart knowing full well that he plays aggressively, even if it regularly sends him to the medical tent.
There is no reason to think that the Giants will reduce Dart’s designed runs, either. He averaged 6.1 carries per game as a rookie, not significantly higher than the 5.7 that Mahomes averaged under Nagy the last three years.
Dubin wants Dart to change how he plays while also expressing doubt about the end result. No one would fault Dubin if he openly said he didn’t trust Dart’s ability to stay healthy.
He wouldn’t be alone, either. Some fans speculated ahead of the draft that the Giants would add a Day 3 quarterback as an insurance option. Unsurprisingly, Harbaugh and Joe Schoen elected not to draft a quarterback.
Dart won’t need long to try silencing Dubin and the other critics, not when he’s the entrenched starter with the public backing of his coach, front office, and teammates.
The Giants return four offensive line starters and used the No. 10 pick on Miami All-American offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa last month.
Mauigoa, a standout right tackle with the Hurricanes, will move inside and start at right guard. He’ll also have the chance to quickly become one of Dart’s best friends.
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