Jaxson Dart Explodes onto the Scene with a Jaw-Dropping Early Lead in the Giants’ QB Showdown

He’s not about to be anointed the starter, even though the New York Giants traded back into the first round of the 2025 NFL draft to select Jaxson Dart, but the rookie quarterback has already built an early lead in a key battle taking place in another area of the depth chart.

Dart, who promised to treat training camp as if he was the starting QB, got more work with the second-team offense than veteran signal-caller Jameis Winston on Wednesday, July 23. The rookie “took the majority of second-team reps,” according to the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, who also noted how Dart “worked behind Winston in 7-on-7 periods but ahead of him in the 11-on-11 periods.”

Whether this is truly a shakeup of sorts in the pecking order for the Giants behind designated QB1 Russell Wilson this early into camp is open for debate.

Giants Not Wasting Time Finding Out About Jaxson Dart

Dunleavy outlined both sides of the argument: “It could be that the Giants just want to load up the reps to expedite Dart’s development and already trust that the 11-year journeyman Winston knows how to prepare for a season as a backup without needing much practice. Or it could be a sign of letting Dart — who took a single first-team rep — dictate his own fortunes.”

A valid case can be made for both scenarios, but the Giants didn’t use first-round capital on Dart to delay his development for a whole season. That would be too big a risk for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, both of whom are under pressure from ownership to win now.

The Giants need to know what they have in Dart sooner, rather than later. Even if it means relegating Winston, a proven starter in the NFL, to the third-string.

What Daboll and Schoen saw at camp on Wednesday was a QB who can move the pocket and throw on the run. Two things Dart did for this touchdown thrown to tight end Theo Johnson in 11-on-11 drills, highlighted by Charlotte Carroll of The Athletic.

This scoring connection came two plays after Dart threw a telegraphed interception to cornerback Nic Jones. Sudden swings of fortune are expected from a first-year passer, but Dart’s explanation for the turnover could have worrying implications for the Giants.

The former Ole Miss star explained to Carroll’s colleague Ian O’Connor how “I just felt like I could beat him with the throw. Obviously going back you want to try to put it a little on the outside shoulder. That’s just the closing speed of the NFL. You do your best to try to get used to it because there are a lot of really, really good athletes out here. It’s definitely something to learn from, but we’ll get better from it and move forward.”

Although words of wisdom from Wilson helped Dart quickly shake off the mistake, the latter’s willingness to chance his arm against tight windows carries risks. Ironically, it’s the same boom-or-bust mentality that has defined Winston’s career.

Jameis Winston Facing Familiar Problem

Proving he belongs has been a problem for Winston before, but he defied the critics with both the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. Winston’s best case to stick has always been his arm talent, specifically, the ability to throw deep.

His big-play potential in this area has sometimes offset a career-long knack for turnovers. Winston has 111 interceptions on his CV. The 31-year-old has thrown double-digit picks in a single season in six out of 10 years.

The Giants don’t need the risk of more error-strewn play from football’s most important position. Not after keeping faith with Daniel Jones for too long.

It’s why Winston may be best suited as an in-case-of -emergencies QB at this stage of his NFL journey. He’d provide excellent insurance against Wilson continuing a steady decline or Dart simply not being ready.

If that job description doesn’t suit Winston, the Giants may have to explore a trade, however difficult it may be to find a partner.