New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has always been a man of few words.
There is a difference in how he talks about some players compared to first-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
The 25th overall pick can save or cost Daboll his job in many ways. After a successful first season that saw the organization win its first playoff game in over a decade, New York has failed to win more than seven games over the last two years.
Daboll’s 18-32-1 record indicates he is on the hot seat.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes Daboll could put Dart into the starting lineup far earlier than many expect.
"I think he's got a chance to play pretty darn early here," Jeremiah told Rich Eisen on his show. "You just kind of listen to the words of Brian Daboll and you get the sense, this was his guy. He's invested in him, and he seems to really, really like him ... it sounds a little different the way he's talking about him."
Dart was the second quarterback taken in the 2025 draft, and for good reason. The Ole Miss product has a strong arm and is athletic enough to run different variations of an NFL offense.
Learning behind a veteran like Russell Wilson can't hurt either.
The Giants' coaching staff understands that this could be their last chance to prove they belong at the helm of the storied franchise. Going 8-9 or 7-10 with an improving rookie quarterback is a lot different than having Wilson be the starter throughout the year.
That is why New York might eventually need Dart to play at some point this season.
And …
It might be earlier than anyone expects.