Soon, Jaxson Dart will partake in his first NFL training camp with the New York Giants.
Unlike most first-round rookies, Dart isn't expected to start taking reps with the first team as soon as the Giants get to work in a few weeks. The rookie is fighting with Jameis Winston for the second spot on the depth chart currently.
Dart's in a tough spot. For every person who believes a redshirt rookie season learning behind a couple of seasoned veterans will be beneficial, there is a person who believes getting on the field will be the only way Dart can truly learn behind them.
The status of Dart heading into next season is believed to come down to multiple factors. One, the Giants simply see themselves as contenders and believe Russell Wilson gives them the best shot to compete right now. Two, the Ole Miss star simply might not be ready for the QB1 spotlight at this level just yet.
Recently, NFL Analyst Greg Cossell got slightly critical of Dart as he enters year one. The longtime Analyst pointed to areas that could use improvement on an episode of 'Inside the Birds.'
"I think he's a good thrower-I don't think he's a great thrower," Cosell said.
"I thought that at times his deep throws lost a little energy on the back end. Sometimes he works hard to throw the ball."
It's not all bad for Dart, though. While Cosell believes the rookie could use a lot of work with his throwing, the mobility factor should help him early on.
"Dart's an interesting player. The mobility is a factor," Cosell added. "You do have to factor that into the equation ... He's going to run for first downs. He may not be the fastest guy on the field, but that's a part of his game that's meaningful."
Before landing at Ole Miss in 2022, Dart had a six-game stretch at USC. He appeared in six games, throwing 189 passes for 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns.
Once he got to Ole Miss in 2022, Dart was a full-time starter for the next three seasons. Improvements were made each time. By his senior season, Dart had finished the year by completing 69 percent (college high) of his passes, for 4,279 yards (college high), and 29 touchdowns. He finished his college career with an 81-27 touchdown-interception ratio.
Enough fans and analysts believe that Dart will eventually take over for Russell Wilson at a point next season to make the situation worth paying attention to, even though the Giants remain adamant that Dart will stay on ice. At the end of the day, only time will tell if that's truly the case or not.
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