The Philadelphia Eagles may eventually have to worry about New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart if he can put it all together at the professional level, but the first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft will likely spend his rookie year as a backup behind Russell Wilson for a team that projects to be one of the league's worst.
That unfortunate situation hasn't done much to blunt the confidence of a player New York thinks will help take them over Philadelphia and back to the top of the NFC East. Eagles players have to be licking their chops after hearing his latest boast.
"There’s no light that’s too bright to play in," Dart said. "I’m not scared." Dart may change his tune if he continues his bad habit of holding onto the ball and gets pressured up the middle by Jalen Carter. Confidence is good, but this is also a quote that could end up as an Old Takes Exposed repost in record time.
Eagles could humble Jaxson Dart after bold quotes in training camp
Dart has the arm talent needed to be a thorn in Philly's side in the next few years, but the complexities of an NFL offense might be what does him in. If his Ole Miss playbook was a college-level course, an NFL offense is like a Ph.d in biomechanical engineering.
While Dart would have Malik Nabers to throw to in any hypothetical matchup against the Eagles, his offensive line is far from game-changing, and Nabers is the only skill position player who would worry Vic Fangio for more than five minutes. When pressured, Dart's accuracy falls off a cliff.
Since the 2014 season, the Eagles have only lost to the Giants four times. There are years of Daniel Jones-related scar tissue that Dart will have to work around, and the Eagles will likely be able to take advantage of that while he tries to make a name for himself in the pros.
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Even if Dart ends up adapting to the pro game quicker than many of those who doubt his ability think he will, the Eagles have more than enough star power on the defensive side of the ball to make him regret being so cavalier and confident right out of the gate.