Expectations are getting high for New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart. That comes with the territory of being a first-round rookie joining a major football market.
Dart's situation is unlike most first-rounders, though. As he joins the Giants, who don't have another long-term quarterback on board, the Ole Miss star is expected to hold the clipboard in year one for now. New York inked Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, intending to start the former.
Since Wilson and Winston both have plenty of experience, it's easier for the optimistic New York team to rely on them over Dart, for the time being. Since the Giants hope to land in some level of contention in 2025, some could view the head coach, Brian Daboll, as being on the hotseat.
CBS Sports' recent hotseat rankings gave the Giants' head coach the No. 1 spot. While there are several factors to explain the decision to rank Daboll there, it comes as a bit of a shock that there was a suggestion that Daboll's fate could "rest on Dart" this season.
"Poor quarterback play has been the Achilles heel for the Giants over Daboll's tenure, and the organization did make efforts this offseason to rectify it," writes CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan. "It signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency and traded up into the back end of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
"Wilson is currently positioned to be the Week 1 starter, but Daboll's fate may rest on Dart, who impressed during the offseason program. If Dart takes over at some point during the season and shows flashes, that could be enough to save Daboll."
Despite the growing narrative of Dart having a potential takeover at QB1 in 2025, all signs point to Wilson's job being safe for now. Dart might've impressed during spring practices, but so did Wilson. In fact, one Giants Insider credited Wilson as the most impressive on the field in front of the media.
The NFL has seen Wilson in action plenty of times. He established himself as one of the NFL's more consistent stars under center. However, recent seasons with the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't go as planned for the veteran. Recent history is playing against the quarterback, and only game action could swing the narrative into Wilson's favor.
If Wilson can't get back on track, leading to Dart replacing him, who then struggles like a rookie, it could be game over for Daboll's time in New York. Unfortunately, CBS Sports predicts that Daboll could end up a free agent after the 2025 NFL season.
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