When should the Giants start Jaxson Dart? 'This is going to be a pretty good QB'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brian Daboll had a plan and was going to stick with it. His young, talented quarterback wasn’t going to play early in the regular season. He wanted him to sit and watch and learn as much as he could.

And then, in the third quarter of the 2018 opener, Josh Allen took over as the Buffalo Bills quarterback. A few days later, the rookie was named the starter for Week 2.

Daboll was just the Bills offensive coordinator then, and Allen was sitting behind Nathan Peterman, not a 10-time Pro Bowler like Russell Wilson, but the lesson is a valuable one nonetheless. Right now, Daboll has no intention of playing Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart early in the season, so he can sit and watch and learn as much as possible.

But plans can always change, sometimes quickly.

"You know, you take a lot from your experiences," Daboll said earlier this preseason. "Some [young quarterbacks weren’t] going to play and then a guy gets hurt or whatever it may be. We alter that daily. We talk about it every night. It’s a big priority for us."

The plan to develop the 22-year-old Dart into the Giants’ next great franchise quarterback might be the biggest priority for Daboll and his staff. And the early returns on their project have been outstanding. Dart was electric in New York's three preseason games, completing 68.1% of his passes (32 of 47) for 372 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s a 113.08 passer rating. He also ran for 52 yards and a touchdown on six carries.

Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants looks on during the national anthem prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on August 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty