It has been the age-old debate in the Big Apple: how much will we really see of Jaxson Dart as a rookie? Some say a lot, some (like myself) don’t think we’ll see much, if at all. But ESPN insider Adam Schefter has his own opinion.
“The Giants would like to be as patient as they can with their rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart, and go with Russell Wilson,” Schefter said on ESPN’s Get Up.
This was the expectation. At 36, Wilson’s career might be on its last legs, but it’s clear Big Blue didn’t sign him to ride the pine. They always wanted to sign a veteran to give their youngsters time to develop, which has worked with guys like Patrick Mahomes and Jordan Love.
But the Giants have the hardest schedule in football, and Wilson struggled down the stretch in Pittsburgh.
Adam Schefter's words spark debate on Giants long-term plan
However, Schefter noted similarities between the current predicament of the Giants' brass and one that Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen previously faced in 2018. Over five years ago in Buffalo, Daboll, then-offensive coordinator, and Schoen, the assistant GM, planned to be “very patient” with a rookie named Josh Allen.
“Let’s keep in mind once before, Brian Daboll and the Giants' General Manager, Joe Schoen was in Buffalo and the plan there was to be very patient with Josh Allen. And he was called on to start a lot sooner than anybody expected.”
The core difference between the two is that Allen’s main competition for snaps was Nathan Peterman, the same quarterback who threw five interceptions in one half of his first career start. Wilson is a Super Bowl champion and a future Hall of Famer. Throw in Jameis Winston, and the situations could not be more different.
But he prefaced that statement by not intending to compare the reigning NFL MVP with a player who has yet to even take a snap against an NFL defense. Especially when Dart is more of a project than some realize.
“We’re not saying that Jaxson Dart is Josh Allen,” Schefter added. “But plans sometimes change.”
Schefter’s words also contradict a statement from NFL Network expert Daniel Jeremiah from a few weeks ago, where he told Giants fans to “expect a lot of Jaxson Dart” this fall on The Rich Eisen Show.
Further adding to the conversation, Newsweek’s Justin Grasso echoed the sentiment that the Giants' quarterback situation remains fluid. Grasso points out that while Wilson is the Week 1 starter, Dart’s raw arm talent and mobility make it impossible to rule out an earlier-than-expected debut– especially if the team struggles out of the gate.
Even Archie Manning said the G-Men should not rush the former Ole Miss standout into action. But Daboll and Schoen’s jobs are on the line, and progress should be the path forward. This is also the