Latest news with #JaxsonDart
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Russell Wilson makes it clear he's still the leader of the Giants, embraces Jaxson Dart competition
Russell Wilson addresses Jaxson Dart buzz, insists his focus and role for the Giants won't change (Getty Images) The New York Giants made a splash in the offseason by signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal in March. At 36 and entering his 14th NFL season, Wilson brings a wealth of experience to a team clearly in transition. But the writing may already be on the wall. Just a month after acquiring the former Super Bowl champion, the Giants made a bold move during the draft—trading back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall. Russell Wilson welcomes Jaxson Dart challenge but stays firm on being the leader Jaxson Dart's selection wasn't just another draft pick; it was a statement. The Giants signaled their intent to find a long-term answer at quarterback, and in doing so, turned every Wilson throw into a potential audition. The rookie from Ole Miss has quickly become a magnet for attention during offseason practices, while Wilson finds himself navigating the dual role of leader and mentor in what could be a brief tenure in New York. Still, Wilson remains unfazed. 'It doesn't change anything at all,' Wilson said confidently after the team's sixth OTA practice. 'I think the biggest thing is for me is just being my best every day, leading. I always think about just leading everybody, just leading every room, every moment, every time I get to step between the white lines and the opportunity of that.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Photos Captured the Exact Wrong Moment Read More Undo Russell Wilson on Jaxson Dart's talent and Giants' goals for the season That mindset has been a hallmark of Wilson's career. He famously beat out a highly paid Matt Flynn for the starting job in Seattle as a rookie in 2012, proving that depth charts in the NFL are fluid by nature. Now, more than a decade later, he faces a different challenge: not proving he belongs in the league, but showing he still deserves the starting role, even if the franchise is already thinking long-term. Wilson's signing—worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed—made him the presumed starter in a crowded quarterback room that also includes Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito. Yet Dart's arrival shifts the narrative from competition to mentorship. The veteran quarterback appears to be embracing that transition with grace. 'Jaxson's been great, man,' Wilson noted. 'He's a great worker, great teammate. We're having fun, all of us. We have a really good quarterback room. Guys are so focused and working diligently every day. He's going to be an extremely, extremely good talent and everything else throughout his career.' Rather than treat the rookie as a threat, Wilson seems invested in his growth. He's leaning into his leadership role, both vocally and by example, demonstrating the kind of professionalism that could prove invaluable for Dart's development. 'I always share and I always think about communication,' he added. 'I'm a big believer in communicating out loud.' For now, Wilson is still QB1. His focus remains squarely on preparation and performance—knowing that in the NFL, nothing is guaranteed. His words reflect a man who understands the moment, embraces the pressure, and refuses to be distracted by what comes next. 'I just think about having success today,' he explained. 'It's always been my approach. Every day is like I'm trying to be the best in the world. I think that for me, mentally, you have confidence in yourself. You have confidence in what you do, your process. I constantly stay the course and understand that if I'm the best me, I know how great that is.' Whether Wilson's tenure with the Giants becomes a farewell tour or a surprise comeback story, he's already setting a tone that could shape the franchise's future—for both himself and the quarterback waiting in the wings. Also Read: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spark fresh buzz with intimate Palm Beach date night amid career milestones
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Giants OC: Team targeted QB Jaxson Dart ‘relatively early'
June 5 - Before the New York Giants' organized team activity session Thursday ended abruptly with a fight, the team's trio of quarterbacks cycled through their reps and a pecking order began to take shape. Russell Wilson practiced with the team's projected starters, but rookie Jaxson Dart took over for him for one rep with the ones and spent the rest of the day with the twos. Jameis Winston practiced for the third-teamers, other than for one rep with the twos. Wilson praised Dart Thursday while dodging a question about what it will mean to have a first-round pick working behind him. Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka revealed that New York zeroed in on the former Ole Miss quarterback "relatively early" in the draft evaluation process. "I would say it was relatively early just because you get -- the more touchpoints you have with him, the more confidence you get and the more you see him fitting into your system and your scheme," Kafka said. "And so I felt really confident about how he operated, how he studied, how he prepared, how he handled himself. And then at the end of the day, his tape and the way he performed in those meetings." While the Giants were seen as a possibility to take Shedeur Sanders with the No. 3 overall pick, they instead fell in love with Dart and traded back into the first round (No. 25 overall) to make him the second QB selected behind first overall pick Cam Ward. "You watch the explosive plays, you watch how he operates in the two-minute drills and under pressure, under duress," Kafka said. "You see some of the off-schedule, off-platform plays he has and you kind of watch that together and put together a report. "Those are things that stood out to me. His ability to kind of play within the pocket, play outside the pocket, QB run game, things like that." Kafka is known for having worked with Patrick Mahomes early in his Kansas City Chiefs career. There, Kafka was the quarterbacks coach; in New York, he's the offensive coordinator, but he'll be plenty involved with Dart's development all the same. "Just being the quarterback coach, you're in that room with them. You're coaching them just on the specific job of the quarterback, versus the offensive coordinator putting the whole picture together for the Qs," Kafka explained. "Being in those meetings with the quarterbacks and explaining my intent for a play or my vision for what that play could be or what the offense could look like and how we're going to attack certain things, just being out in front of that with the quarterbacks is always good information." Kafka also praised Wilson for his "leadership" and "command" at his previous stops in Seattle, Denver and Pittsburgh, though the latter two chapters of his career were nowhere near as fruitful as his time with the Seahawks. "You see the competitiveness that he brings, the demeanor that he brings," Kafka said. .".. It's a new offense for him and he's played a lot of football, so a lot of these plays are similar to what he knows. Just getting him on the same page terminology-wise. But he's doing a great job and I'm excited to have him." When asked, Wilson did not offer up his reaction to the Giants trading up for Dart in April, not long after they signed both him and Winston. "Yeah, Jaxson's been great, man. He's a great worker, great teammate," Wilson said. "We're having fun, all of us. We have a really good quarterback room. Guys are so focused and working diligently every day. He's going to be an extremely, extremely good talent and everything else throughout his career." The former Super Bowl champion said Dart being the QB2 "doesn't change anything at all" for him. "I think the biggest thing is for me is just being my best every day, leading," Wilson said. "I always think about just leading everybody, just leading every room, every moment, every time I get to step between the white lines and the opportunity of that. "We had a great dinner the other night, all the guys, all the O-line and quarterbacks and running backs together. We just had a good time, just tons of laughs and a good time together. So just I think the fellowship of it all is the best part right now. Obviously, our work ethic and what we're doing in the field. But when it comes to just the tight-knit culture that we're continuing to build and continue to grow, and we want to have a championship football team, and in terms of our mentality and our approach and how we go about it." --Field Level Media
Washington Post
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Russell Wilson focused on being a leader for the Giants even with all eyes on rookie Jaxson Dart
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Russell Wilson knows he's not the future. Not at this point in his career. The New York Giants hope that'll be Jaxson Dart. For now, though, Wilson is the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart — and he fully expects to remain there when the season starts.
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Russell Wilson focused on being a leader for the Giants even with all eyes on rookie Jaxson Dart
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Russell Wilson knows he's not the future. Not at this point in his career. The New York Giants hope that'll be Jaxson Dart. For now, though, Wilson is the No. 1 quarterback on the depth chart — and he fully expects to remain there when the season starts. Still, all eyes during offseason practices are on Dart, the big-armed first-round draft pick from Mississippi. 'It doesn't change anything at all,' Wilson said of his approach after the Giants' sixth practice of organized team activities Thursday. 'I think the biggest thing is for me is just being my best every day, leading. I always think about just leading everybody, just leading every room, every moment, every time I get to step between the white lines and the opportunity of that.' New York signed the 36-year-old Wilson, who's entering his 14th season, in March to a one-year deal worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed. The move gave the Giants a stopgap option at quarterback, teaming with Jameis Winston and holdover Tommy DeVito. But a month later, New York traded back into the first round of the draft and took Dart — giving the Giants a potential signal caller for the future. 'Jaxson's been great, man,' Wilson said while speaking to reporters for the first time since the draft. 'He's a great worker, great teammate. We're having fun, all of us. We have a really good quarterback room. Guys are so focused and working diligently every day. He's going to be an extremely, extremely good talent and everything else throughout his career.' For now, though, Dart is the student and Wilson very much the teacher. And the leader of the offense. 'I always share and I always think about communication,' Wilson said. 'I'm a big believer in communicating out loud, just, 'Here's what I'm thinking, here's what I'm saying.' You don't hold any information. I think that for us, it's always about us being the best that we can all be. 'And I think for me, when you have tremendous confidence in yourself, you have no problem sharing it with others. I think that's just how I've always believed.' Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection, helped Pittsburgh make the playoffs last season and threw for 2,482 yards with 16 touchdown passes and five interceptions and a 96.5 passer rating. But the Steelers lost five in a row at the end of the season, including in the wild-card playoffs against Baltimore. The Steelers allowed Wilson to become a free agent and he joined the Giants with a chance to help turn around a franchise that went through a 3-14 season with a revolving door at quarterback. 'It's been nice,' wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson said. 'A guy that's been in this league a long time. He tells you exactly what he wants out there, running routes, and the spots he needs you to be in. So, it's been really, really nice.' Wilson might not be the dynamic playmaker he was while helping the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory in 2014, but there's enough there to make the Giants optimistic about what he can do for them. 'I see a lot of things in Russ and things that I watched from afar for a long time — his time in Seattle, Denver, Pittsburgh, just the leadership, the command,' offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. 'You see that on the field. I think the players are responding to it.' Wilson has also been trying to build chemistry with his new teammates, including throwing with several of them in the Atlanta area. Earlier this week, he gathered several of his offensive linemen, running backs and the other quarterbacks for a group dinner. 'We just had a good time, just tons of laughs and a good time together,' Wilson said. 'I think the fellowship of it all is the best part right now. Obviously, our work ethic and what we're doing in the field. But when it comes to just the tight-knit culture that we're continuing to build and continue to grow, and we want to have a championship football team, and in terms of our mentality and our approach and how we go about it. 'And it's not just the games, but it's everything that leads up to that. And that's the fun part about the game of football.' ___ AP NFL:
Newsweek
a day ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Former Giants QB Sounds Off on Jaxson Dart Narrative
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Only time will tell if the New York Giants selected their true franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft with Jaxson Dart. Heading into the 2025 NFL season, it seems the Giants might keep the young rookie on ice, as two veterans ahead of him on the depth chart have more than enough experience to warrant playing over him right away. Russell Wilson joined the Giants after spending a season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then there's Jameis Winston, who just wrapped up a 12-game stretch with the Cleveland Browns last year. The presence of the two quarterbacks can be positive for Dart, if the Giants view Wilson and Winston as two valuable veteran leaders for their 22-year-old passer. However, a quarterback competition won't allow for Dart to get immediate reps as a rookie. In fact, he could be in line for a redshirt year, despite being the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Former Giants quarterback Phil Simms believes that would be a mistake. Sit out the whole season? "That is the most overused stupid thing that I see people say on TV," Simms said on the 'Up & Adams Show' this week. "The ideal situation to me .. they get off to a decent start, we see the whole team is better than it was last year. The defensive line. I think the last two drafts have been very good. All that. We're respectable. But then there comes a point six, seven, eight weeks into the season unless you see that there's an opportunity to really be great we've got to find a spot to put Jaxson Dart in there, give him some experience, let him have some success and some failures because that's how you grow in the NFL as a quarterback." There's only so much a young quarterback can do with his eyes and ears from an NFL sideline. Mental reps and snaps are two totally different worlds. Take it from a two-time champion and multi-time pro bowler. Since the Giants aren't viewed as a potential Super Bowl contender in 2025, they aren't likely to be one veteran quarterback away from breaking into that contention. As a team, they'll see growing pains. Why not allow for Dart to experience some of his own as the season plays out? Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants during rookie minicamp at NY Giants Quest Diagnostics Training Center on May 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants during rookie minicamp at NY Giants Quest Diagnostics Training Center on May 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New last time the Giants drafted high on a quarterback was when they took Daniel Jones out of Duke. There was no redshirt for Jones at the time, who went under center for 13 games in 2019. It was a tough stretch, as the Giants went 3-9. However, they felt good about Jones, who threw for over 3,000 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Long-term, it didn't work out, which places the Giants in a situation to hope that Dart is the answer. Opinions about what the Giants should do with the rookie will be all over the place. In Simms' eyes, it's a no-brainer. Let the kid play next season.
