JAXSON DART
Quarterback
Ole Miss
22 years old
6’2”
215 pounds
Drafted No.25 to the New York Giants
2024 STATS
4,279 air yards, 29 TDs, 6 INTs
276 completions on 398 attempts, 69.3 completion percentage
10.8 yards per attempt
495 rush yards, 3 TDs, 0 TOs
124 attempts
4.0 yards per attempt
WHAT’S THE EVALUATION?
Despite being the second quarterback off the draft board and a first round pick, Jaxson Dart leaves a lot to be desired as a thrower and decision maker.
The number one thing that stood out to me was his poor pocket presence and movement. Dart appears very uncomfortable in the pocket, his feet are scattered and he struggles to escape defensive pressure to the outside.
Part of the pocket struggles might stem from his offensive schooling at Ole Miss, as the playbook constituted a primarily one-read, RPO-heavy offense out of the shotgun.
Dart’s poor decision making is amplified after initial reads are closed off and his accuracy on throws is significantly worse as plays extend.
Accuracy issues manifested in the downfield passing game frequently as Dart routinely underthrew or overthrew long balls, despite appearing to have sufficient arm strength and the ability to throw with touch.
Dart is a willing runner with the ability to pick up significant yardage off of his straight line speed and is not afraid to run through contact.
EXPECTATIONS
It is hard to count Dart out given his ability and willingness to run the ball, but the amount of red flags displayed in his decision making and passing attempts are abundant.
A part of me wonders if New York Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll went after Dart because he shares a similar power running style to other quarterbacks Daboll has seen success with, like Josh Allen and Daniel Jones.
The key difference between them and Dart is the athleticism and frame. He is smaller and less explosive while sharing plenty of the negative traits associated with both as a poor decision maker.
Additionally, Dart is inexperienced playing under center and is entering a crowded quarterback room that includes Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
FANTASY FALLOUT
I will not be surprised if Dart starts five to seven games this season with Daboll potentially coaching for his job, but I expect him to begin the season on the bench.
The lack of clarity around his playing time muddies an already tough fantasy outlook for Dart.
Comparing him to Daniel Jones feels a little on the nose but it is hard not to see the similarities with the once-Giant quarterback.
Jones finished his first season with Daboll as QB9 but has not posted a top 20 fantasy season in his five other years in the NFL, presenting a clear downside picture for Dart’s own fantasy value.
The upside of a potential QB10 to QB13 range is there but I believe the risk more than outweighs the reward in this scenario.
Final Verdict: Mid-third round pick
Wolveridge Langan 