Don’t look now, but the New York Giants might finally have their next franchise quarterback… I’m not freaking out. You are.
As if Jaxson Dart needed to do anything more to add gas to the hype coming off his preseason debut against the Bills, he followed it up with another incredible performance that only deepens the intrigue surrounding the Giants’ quarterback room.
The 22-year-old was on another level Saturday night against Gang Green. Calling his performance insane might be an understatement. He finished 14-for-16 for 137 yards and a touchdown pass. He added two rushes for five yards and a rushing touchdown for good measure.
4 observations from Jaxson Dart’s preseason showing against the Jets
Ahead of schedule (round 2)
During last week’s performance, Dart looked way ahead of schedule. He was poised, he stood in the pocket, and he let his arm do the talking. There were typical rookie mistakes, but nothing egregious enough to make anyone second-guess his potential. Saturday against the Jets was somehow even better.
He looked good. He looked really good. Once again, he used his poise, athleticism, and arm talent to look like the future quarterback of the Giants. It’s only his second preseason game, but it’ll be borderline impossible not to get carried away after his performance Saturday. He could be the one.
He can run with the ones
In one of the more interesting developments, in the middle of a drive led by Russell Wilson, Dart came in and casually completed a screen pass to tight end Theo Johnson that went for 30 yards. While his arm angle was insane (more on that in a minute), it was the fact that he came in off the bench, cold, and got an impressive rep with the ones in a live game.
If that doesn’t scream “that’s awesome,” I don’t know what will.
If there’s an arm angle, there’s a way
Speaking of that insane arm angle…
Dart was slinging the football all over the field, making difficult throws throughout the night. But there was one throw in particular — just so happened to be his first of the night — to Johnson that needed a double-take.
With the defense crashing in and a defender right in his face, the rookie slung a sidearm throw off-balanced like a cyborg, hitting his target for a 30-yard catch-and-run. He made it look effortless. He was known for his arm talent at Ole Miss, but he’s doing his best to redefine what arm talent fully entails.
Russell Wilson’s job is so not safe
There’s looking over your shoulder. And then there’s I-might-need-a-chiropractor looking over your shoulder. Russ is the latter. The 36-year-old fared pretty well. Wilson finished the night with four completions for 108 yards and an interception. He threw a vintage moon ball to UDFA Beaux Collins that went for 80 yards. By all means, it was a solid game.
It won’t do anything to calm the “Dart should start Week 1” narrative, though, nor should it. Dart’s performance was just better. Against the Bills, it was better. Dabs has said it time and time again that Russ will be the starter, but the rookie is making that reality look more like make-believe world by the snap.
Dart’s doing his job and then some. Now it’s on the Giants to figure out what that means.
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