When it comes to the New York Giants drafting Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Russell Wilson has already communicated it won’t change his approach as the team’s starting quarterback.
The 37-year-old Wilson, who signed a one-year deal with the team in free agency has taken most of the first-team reps during organized team activities, but what Dart has been showing during OTAs and minicamp should at least have Wilson looking over his shoulder even if his presence doesn’t change his approach. In fact, maybe it has jolted some rejuvenation in the veteran who has embraced his role someone Dart can learn behind.
In praising Dart’s hard work, Wilson has already been beneficial in his development.
“I always share, and I always think about communication,” Wilson said during OTAs. “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.”
Could Wilson be overconfident that he will be the man leading the Giants at quarterback in 2026?
Russell Wilson will have to turn back the clock to keep Dart off the field
With his best days behind him, a rejuvenated Wilson on the field will be the only reason Dart does not see action in 2026 as a starter. If the veteran signal-caller can turn back the clock to his Seattle days, the benefit for the Giants as an organization will be winning on the field while they develop a quarterback like Dart.
On the flip side, a head coach like Brian Daboll, who is on the hot seat entering the season won’t wait too long to go to Dart if Wilson and the Giants don’t get off to a good start. In fact, if Dart outshines Wilson in training camp and through the preseason, there will be nothing holding Daboll back from starting the rookie quarterback with Wilson as the backup.
That leans towards the bold prediction made by ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano who compares the Giants situation to what the New England Patriots explored with Jacoby Brissett starting ahead then-rookie Drake Maye.
“Last season's Patriots were starting Jacoby Brissett and saying many of the same things, but they were so bad early on that Drake Maye took over the starting job in Week 6”, Graziano wrote. “Unless the Giants are scoring points and winning games at a surprising rate early in the season, it feels inevitable that they reach a point where it's time to see what Dart can do.”
That is a perfect comparison made by Graziano. Daboll and the Giants will want to do the right thing by not putting too much pressure on the rookie QB and allow him time to develop, but there will be too much intrigue not to see what Dart can do, especially if Wilson further proves his best football is behind him.