The reaction to promoting 2025 NFL draft first-round pick Jaxson Dart to starting quarterback hasn’t been entirely what the New York Giants expected. Not when some players are unhappy about one aspect of the decision.
It’s the word from Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who described an “interesting vibe in the locker room this week. Players like Jaxson Dart, but I didn’t get the sense the QB change is being viewed as some rallying cry. Theme from a number of players is that it’s a business and you can never be surprised by anything.”
More significant is the note from Duggan about how “It didn’t sit well with players that news broke on social media during their off day on Tuesday. They were getting texts from family and friends informing them of the QB change.”
Duggan also revealed “One player said the coaches obviously knew the change was coming Monday so it could have been announced in a team meeting then. Others said they could have waited until Wednesday to announce it.”
That’s a double whammy of disappointment for head coach Brian Daboll. He’s desperately hoping replacing Russell Wilson with Dart will provide a spark on the field and lift spirits off it.
Yet, it seems as though incumbent Giants players are unmoved by their coach’s decisive action. Worse still, Daboll may have alienated key sections of the locker room with how he handled the switch.
Giants’ Handling of QB Switch Questioned
Duggan’s report about players not liking how they learned about Dart’s promotion fits with the reactions already expressed by some senior figures. They include wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
Slot wideout Robinson revealed he wasn’t made aware of the change at football’s most important position before it was announced. That sounded a strange note since Robinson will be among those catching passes from Dart, and therefore, is set to have a direct impact on the young signal-caller’s development.
It would surely have made more sense for Daboll to loop in his primary pass-catchers before determining the immediate futures of Wilson and Dart. Particularly when Daboll has been happy to front as the driving force behind the change.
That much was confirmed by Duggan’s colleague Dianna Russini, who revealed, “This was his decision, for better or worse. Giants ownership doesn’t typically force these kinds of moves, and I’m told they didn’t this time either. It wasn’t GM Joe Schoen’s mandate. The call belonged entirely to Daboll and he wants everyone to know it.”
Russini also included a note that “some raised objections,” but Daboll got his way. Fortunately for the coach who’s won just nine games the last two seasons, those most closely connected to Dart are already backing Daboll’s call.
Jaxson Dart Has Support Within QB Room
For this to work, Dart will need the support of the experienced passers around him in the Giants’ quarterback room. Thankfully, he already has veteran backups Wilson and Jameis Winston on board.
Winston has been taking to a new role dedicated to helping Dart prepare for his first start. Meanwhile, Wilson’s made it clear he intends to resist a trade to stick around and play mentor.
The voices of Wilson and Winston will be vital in helping Dart get to drips with being a starter at the pro level. He’ll need the help against a tough and resourceful Los Angeles Chargers defense in Week 4.
It’s already a must-win matchup for the 0-3 Giants, so Daboll will be counting on having all players united around the new QB1. If not, he’ll surely regret how he made the decision set to define Big Blue’s season and his future.
