He’s expected to be the franchise-level quarterback who will save the jobs of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, but Jaxson Dart can’t afford a potentially fatal weakness the New York Giants got tired of seeing from former QB1 Daniels Jones.
The Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL draft to select Dart and make up for their misplaced show of faith in Jones. Schoen and Daboll need Dart to make the grade, but the rookie’s contrasting qualities showed up during OTAs and minicamp, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
He noted how Daboll “was especially impressed with the way Dart processed and retained information, confirming why he was a first-round pick. On his final throw of minicamp, he fired a dart deep down the right sideline for a 25-yard touchdown. It was indicative of the flashes he showed this spring.”
While Dart made a positive first impression, further inspection revealed “a rookie quarterback with plenty to learn,” according to Raanan. That’s understandable for a 22-year-old making the transition to the pro level, but Raanan did point out Dart was guilty of “holding on to the ball too long at times.”
It’s a flaw serious enough to undermine Dart’s career and the Giants’ chances of enjoying a quick turnaround.
Jaxson Dart Repeating Worryingly Similar Daniel Jones Mistake
Taking too long to get rid of the ball is the cardinal sin of playing quarterback in the NFL. It could be especially damaging for a Giants team still carrying unwanted memories of Jones wasting open receivers and big plays because of hesitation in the pocket.
A prime example occurred against the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany last season. Jones wasted a pair of “comically wide open” targets, according to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis.
Gaffes like this became depressingly familiar for the Giants with Jones at the controls. His questionable field vision and reluctance to be aggressive wrecked the rhythm of the team’s pass attack and wasted some smart concepts designed by Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
Their best X’s and O’s didn’t work because Jones was too often guilty of delaying easy throws due to what Dan Schneier of CBS Sports called “SLOW” eyes. Schneier mainted Jones didn’t “have the arm talent to make up for any lack of anticipation.”
One of the most obvious things to anyone who has watched Daniel Jones tape is that no matter who is OL, WR, etc, his eyes are SLOW
This ball has to be out MUCH quicker to Nabers & it’s a chunk gain. He doesn’t have the arm talent to make up for any lack of anticipation
#Giants
Dart possesses superior arm strength to Jones, but taking an extra beat before throwing will still be a problem for another reason. Namely, because the Giants lack the talent along the offensive line to adequately protect a signal-caller who likes to be certain before he releases the ball.
Giants Need Aggressive QB Play
He’s been candid about his learning curve this offseason, but the Giants are counting on Dart for the controlled aggression they need at football’s most important position. Gifted, young skill players like wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. can’t be wasted by reckless decision-making, nor by overly-cautious processing, from the player primarily in charge of the ball.
What Nabers and Tracy need are quick decisions and accurate distribution. Those same attributes would also be welcomed by an O-line that’s still a major question mark after giving up 48 sacks last season.
Fortunately, the Giants can rely on a couple of veterans, 10-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson and former first-overall pick Jameis Winston, making those decisions while Dart watches and learns.
Wilson will start early, but Dart is already playing ahead of Winston, according to Raanan. That’s significant because the plan is for Dart to eventually take the reins, although there are those who believe he’ll start sooner rather than later.
It won’t happen if Dart doesn’t shed the Jones-esque habit the Giants don’t want to see from the intended future of the franchise.
