When the New York Giants traded back into the first round to take Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall, the plan was simple: let the rookie sit and learn behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Give him time. Let him breathe. Avoid another rushed quarterback project like, well, the last one.
That’s why head coach Brian Daboll wasted no time after the pick, shutting down any hint of a quarterback controversy. “Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback,” Daboll told reporters. That was supposed to be the end of it.
But it might not be that simple. Because according to NFL analyst (and Phil Simms’ son) Chris Simms, that plan could be tossed right out the window if Dart keeps stacking up strong performances — and he wouldn’t be surprised at all if that happens.
Chris Simms sees a path for Dart to be QB1 sooner than expected
Appearing on Up & Adams on Monday, Simms didn’t hold back when asked about Dart’s chances of starting in 2025 — even as early as Week 1:
“I don’t expect the Giants to be a super team here,” Simms said. “I’m not picking the Giants to go to the playoffs. The amount of money they’re paying Russell Wilson does not guarantee him the starting quarterback job. Those are things I look at to go, if Jaxson Dart is phenomenal through training camp and OTAs and has a really good preseason. And Russell Wilson is just eh, just OK and doesn’t look all that sharp, I don’t think they’ll be scared to start Jaxson Dart here.”
Let’s be honest — that’s a sentence no one expected to hear at this point in the offseason. But when you look at the setup, it kinda makes sense. The G-Men aren’t locked into Wilson long-term. Jameis Winston is more insurance policy than QB2. And if Dart keeps flashing like he did at rookie minicamp, the pressure to play him will only intensify.
Simms pointed out what fans have been whispering since draft night — Dart was always the guy they wanted:
“By all due accounts, it sounds like the guy Daboll really wanted was Jaxson Dart,” Simms said. “And when you got the head coach/playcaller in your corner and your his guy, he’s going to make sure you succeed and go in the right direction.”
The buzz started bubbling at minicamp when Dart strung together a handful of impressive throws, capped off by a deep strike to undrafted rookie Da’Quan Felton that had Giants Twitter foaming at the mouth. That momentum could build quickly once OTAs begin.
So, what’s the most likely timeline? Simms offered up a real answer there too:
“I wouldn’t be shocked Week 1,” he said. “I think it would be realistically, if you made me bet, I would say around Week 5 or 6 would be really the time I’d expect him.”
It’s still wayyy too early. But the idea of Dart riding the bench all year now feels a lot less set in stone. If he balls out in camp and Wilson stumbles, the leash could get short fast. And if Simms is right, Week 1 might not be as off the table as Daboll once made it seem.