When the New York Giants selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the assumption was that he’d sit behind established veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston and have a redshirt season during his rookie year.
But after making a strong impression at the Giants’ rookie minicamp, that plan could be changing.
At least, that’s what NBC Sports analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms believes.
Simms appeared on a recent episode of ‘Up and Adams’ and made a bold prediction about Dart’s 2025 outlook.
“If Jaxson Dart is phenomenal through training camp and in OTAs and has a really good preseason, and Russell Wilson’s just OK and doesn’t look all that sharp? I don’t think they’ll be scared to start Jaxson Dart,” Simms said. “He played in an NFL offense under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, so he’s really good as far as reading coverages, going through the reads, and doing all that, and by all accounts, it sounds like the guy that Daboll really wanted was Jaxson Dart.”
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As for when Simms thinks Dart could crack the starting lineup?
“I wouldn’t be shocked Week 1, I think realistically, if you made me bet, I’d say somewhere around Week 5 or 6 is where I’d expect it.”
Could Jaxson Dart be the Giants Week 1 starter? Chris Simms believes it is a strong possibility 👀@heykayadams | @CSimmsQB | @Giants pic.twitter.com/vesQ8BSOUM
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 12, 2025
Giants may have no choice but to start Jaxson Dart in 2025
The expectations around the New York Giants in 2025 are understandably low. Sure, they’ve added some appealing pieces on defense in free agency and with the selection of Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, but Russell Wilson doesn’t inspire confidence in the Giants making a sudden turnaround as a playoff team.
The NFC East poses an additional layer of challenges, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders both trending as Super Bowl contenders this year.
As a result, the Giants’ primary goal this season should be to determine if Dart is, in fact, a franchise quarterback.
Let’s face it: Wilson is a one-year rental. Winston is comic relief. Dart is the only real hope this team has at getting it right at quarterback, and the sooner they find out if he’s the answer, the better off they’ll be.
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