The Giants made a pair of short-term quarterback additions during free agency. It came as no surprise, however, when they moved back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart. 
The No. 25 pick certainly represents New York’s future under center. The status of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen will depend in no small part on Dart’s development, but if all goes according to plan that will not include regular season action in 2025. Daboll confirmed after the draft that Russell Wilson remains on track to handle QB1 duties this season. The 36-year-old echoes that thought.
“It doesn’t change anything at all,” Wilson said of the Dart decision and his preparation for the coming campaign (via the Associated Press through Fox Sports). “I think the biggest thing 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.”
Wilson expressed a desire to remain in Pittsburgh after his single season atop the depth chart. The Steelers showed interest in retaining at least one of he or Justin Fields, but the latter wound up being seen as more of a priority. In the end, both departed on the open market, with Wilson taking a one-year Giants pact. That contract – which came about after team and player showed interest in one another last offseason – has a base value of $10.5MM and includes another $10.5MM in incentives.
As expected given those terms, Wilson said one month before the draft he viewed himself as the Giants’ starter. Jameis Winston (who inked a two-year deal) and Tommy DeVito (who has made a total of eight starts across his two years in the league) were also in place at the time he stated his position. Dart has since joined that group, meaning one of Winston or DeVito could fail to survive roster cuts at the end of the summer.
In any event, Wilson’s level of play with his fourth career team will be critical in determining his outlook and that of the Giants’ regime. A Super Bowl-winning Seahawks tenure was followed by a short-lived run in Denver for Wilson. His one-and-done Steelers campaign produced middling results once the 10-time Pro Bowler was healthy, but stable play in New York could help the team take a step forward compared to last season.
Training camp will of course provide Dart with the opportunity to see game action earlier than planned. Wilson’s stance remains that he will enter the summer atop the depth chart, though, and it will be interesting to see if he will mange to retain that spot.