While rookie Jaxson Dart will likely start sooner or later, Russell Wilson is the projected Week 1 starter, leaving a potential odd man out at QB. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah predicts the Ole Miss first-rounder to face the Denver Broncos in Week 7, as they have a Week 14 bye this year, and that matchup in October is in between their matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In the current depth chart, he is third, but with a potential good training camp and preseason, it’s definitely possible he starts closer to mid-season like rookie quarterbacks last year. While the veteran free-agent signings Russ and Jameis Winston are ahead, it’s totally possible that they could be trade candidates depending on how the former Pittsburgh Steeler does early on.
Wilson played in 12 games in 2024, including once in the postseason, and while he could have a bounce-back year, it’s realistic that the trade deadline might be the turning point if the Giants turn it over to Dart by then. The same can be said for Winston as well, as he mostly played in eight games for the Cleveland Browns last year.
Giants: Winston vs. DeVito for QB 3
Despite both free-agent signings at the position, on top of drafting Dart, Brian Daboll and Co. brought back Tommy DeVito. The only reason I can realistically think of as to why they did is due to scheme familiarity, and in case of an injury in camp.
His two-game starting sample size last year was abysmal, with porous protection and not much help in the games he did play. The only silver lining, other than being injury insurance, is that they could flip him for a pick before Week 9.
But would teams really be desperate for that, even if their starter goes down? If anything, they would gun for the two veterans, and either would likely fetch them better draft capital ultimately. Either way, this potential trade scenario hinges on their health regardless and the progression of Dart as a rookie.
Even after signing this offseason, the most realistic scenario is one of the veterans getting dealt if there isn’t an injury at the position. I could see Dart going the Michael Penix Jr. route and starting more at the tail end of the season rather than the Drake Maye situation and starting right away.
