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EAST RUTHERFORD - New York Giants coach Brian Daboll promised there would be curveballs for Jaxson Dart.
At different times, typically when he would least expect those tests, the Giants have been planning out how they would speed up every aspect of his NFL learning curve even before they traded back into the first round and selected the quarterback out of Ole Miss two months ago.
The challenges for Dart are not always what they seem. In some ways, the Giants and their 21-year-old quarterback of the future benefit more from what he does not see coming.
"Well, it's good to get [Dart] in with the ones. There's usually a level of anxiety at times for young players when they get thrown into the mix," Daboll said Tuesday morning prior to the start of the Giants' first of two practices during their mandatory minicamp, the culmination of their offseason program. "It's not exactly planned in terms of, 'He's getting [the third rep], sometimes we'll just say get in there [and] then he's calling plays in front of veterans that have done it at a high level. I think that's important.
"Or, put him with the threes for a while, where he's got to kind of instruct some other guys that are asking questions about things that maybe Wan’Dale [Robinson] already knows the answer to those they are asking him in the huddle. Just try to get him as many different situations as you can, so when it happens, because inevitably it'll happen at some point, he's went through it at least one or two times."
Dart has not been perfect, and Daboll and the Giants want it that way. There have been moments when he looks the part of a raw developmental QB, like the play on which he appeared somewhat confused after squeezing through a crease of a collapsing pocket, erratically flipping the ball at the feet of running back Turbo Miller.
Yet those have been few and far between in the four sessions open to the media with a fifth coming Wednesday.
Dart closed his practice Tuesday with a great team period against a mixture of the second and third-team defenses. He punctuated a 7-of-8 passing performance by dropping a beauty of a throw in the bucket to fellow rookie Dalen Cambre on a corner route for the score.
The Giants' scouting reports on Dart were predictive in nature. Daboll loved his moxie
"He’s an instinctive player," Giants quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Shea Tierney said of Dart, whose development will continue to involve working closely with Tierney, Daboll, offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka and assistant QB coach Chad Hall. "He does a really good job of knowing where to go with the ball even if he’s not fully aware of what is going on yet as a rookie. Has really good spatial awareness. All the things we thought we saw on tape have kind of shown up when we saw him live here for the first time."
Here's a look at where the rest of the Giants' rookie class - undrafted players included - stands as spring workouts finish up and the focus turns to training camp following a six-week break to begin the summer:
Carter was the best defensive player in the Class of 2025 and was the right pick for the Giants at third overall. The fierce pass rusher came to New Jersey with Big Blue envisioning a dominant defensive front that won them their last two Super Bowls. He moves like Von Miller and his game is nowhere near its ceiling with just one season as a defensive end. With his respect for Lawrence Taylor, their exchange over the No. 56 and Taylor telling Carter that, while he would be rooting for him, to pick another number and make it his own, the Penn State star is going to be motivated to do just that.
And here's the strange thing: with all the attention paid to Dart - and rightfully so - somehow Carter's talent and opportunity to impact this defense has been somewhat undersold. We haven't even seen him have to get to his array of pass rush moves, with his quickness proving nearly impossible for any of the Giants' offensive tackles - first or second team - to stop. He's been the most impressive player on the field - and that continued with a dominant performance yet again Tuesday. It's unfair for any offensive linemen tasked to slow him down without getting their hands on him first.
"Man, he's a beast," Kayvon Thibodeaux said. "Excited to have another guy to add to the gauntlet."
The true impact of Alexander won't be felt until training camp, but we have missed seeing the third rounder from Toledo relegated to individual drills if not with the training staff as he works through an undisclosed injury. The Giants are seemingly playing it smart with a rookie they expect to have a significant role up front.
Like Alexander, Skattebo has been working off to the side with the training staff over the past two weeks. Still, he showed off his receiving skills early in OTAs and, to be fair, the run game won't be completely implemented until camp. There is still plenty of time for Skattebo to show what he can do.
Mbow has primarily been at right tackle with the second team this spring, but offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo indicated Tuesday that the fifth-round pick from Iowa has been working at different spots throughout spring workouts. He got extended time in the second half of Tuesday's practice at left tackle, manning the spot with all three teams, including the projected starters.
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Fidone has a WR background which shows up in his route tree. He plays Y tight end and is a willing blocker with an edge. His consistent presence on the field the past six weeks is a promising sign for a player whose ACL history [two in college at Nebraska] likely led to him falling to the seventh round.
Watch for Black to get a lot of time in preseason games, and he could be a sleeper. The seventh rounder from Oklahoma State has yet to assert himself in practices attended by the media, but that does not mean he won't get an opportunity.
Felton has showcased his size and done well for himself. Seems to have a connection with Dart, which obviously helps. Just seeing him on the field, he has a great frame at 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds, so he stands out. Made a very good one-handed catch in traffic back in OTAs. Was somewhat quiet Tuesday as a couple of other rookies got chances with the first team. Overall, his proving ground will be in training camp and preseason games.
Collins got reps with the 1st team on Tuesday for Jalin Hyatt, who came off the field with a trainer and was getting his lower body stretched out. During 7-on-7, the former Notre Dame standout caught a touchdown on a corner fade from Russell Wilson while working with the starters. He has consistently been working with the second team offense this spring, offering inside-outside versatility.
Cambre was a decorated special teams ace in college, so he could make a strong move this summer to challenge Bryce Ford-Wheaton for a spot. He had 10 catches in his entire career at Louisiana, but has continued to surprise with his elusiveness and short-area quickness working in the red zone. On Tuesday, Cambre had a team-high five catches, including three from Jameis Winston during the same period in which he proved difficult to cover in tight spaces. He also hauled in a pretty touchdown pass of about 25 yards from Jaxson Dart.
Bly has been working in the return game on both punts and kickoffs. While he is not the front runner by any stretch, the fact that the Giants see him in that mix bodes well for his chances to make a push for the practice squad.
Wells showed great chemistry out of the slot during OTAs with Dart, his college teammate at Ole Miss, and with Tommy DeVito. He'll be among the group of UDFA receivers with a chance to impress during training camp and in preseason games.
Ford was a six-year college player, starting at Oklahoma State, where he was for four years, and he battled injuries for most of his time there. The Sooners' edge has some skill and he has flashed at times, setting up a potential battle for a spot on the practice squad with Tomon Fox and perhaps Kenny Dyson, the former Carolina Panther and ex-Bryant star who is a minicamp tryout.
Fortune was lauded for his sticky coverage last season at South Carolina and was one of the most sought-after undrafted free agents on the market. He's yet to truly carve out a role, but he does move well and that could come in camp.
Moore earned a spot on the team as a tryout at rookie minicamp and he has consistently been in a rotation in the secondary on the second and third teams this spring. He's been targeted a lot, and the extra attention now could ultimately pay dividends later this summer if he can turn some of the bumps into a learning experience. There is no substitute for reps at this level.
A 6-foot-3, 197-pound safety, Paige led all Michigan DBs last season with 45 tackles, which included one for loss as well as six pass breakups, two interceptions and a blocked kick on special teams. So far, he's been feeling his way in the secondary with snaps at safety and in the slot.
He's 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, and possesses talent as a dual threat as a receiver and blocker. He's facing an uphill climb in the tight end room right now, though, so practice squad might be the realistic goal.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder from Youngstown State models his game after perennial Pro Bowl tackle and future Hall of Famer Trent Williams. He's spent the spring working mostly at right guard with the third team.
The undrafted rookie from Elon signed here boasting a superb athletic profile, and he has had some hiccups early as far as drops that are to be expected.
Art Stapleton is the Giants beat reporter and NFL columnist for NorthJersey.com and The Record. For unlimited access to all Giants analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and sign up for our All In on NY Giants newsletter.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X and Instagram: @art_stapleton
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants Rookie Report: What Jaxson Dart, Class of 2025 have shown us
Continue reading...
At different times, typically when he would least expect those tests, the Giants have been planning out how they would speed up every aspect of his NFL learning curve even before they traded back into the first round and selected the quarterback out of Ole Miss two months ago.
The challenges for Dart are not always what they seem. In some ways, the Giants and their 21-year-old quarterback of the future benefit more from what he does not see coming.
"Well, it's good to get [Dart] in with the ones. There's usually a level of anxiety at times for young players when they get thrown into the mix," Daboll said Tuesday morning prior to the start of the Giants' first of two practices during their mandatory minicamp, the culmination of their offseason program. "It's not exactly planned in terms of, 'He's getting [the third rep], sometimes we'll just say get in there [and] then he's calling plays in front of veterans that have done it at a high level. I think that's important.
"Or, put him with the threes for a while, where he's got to kind of instruct some other guys that are asking questions about things that maybe Wan’Dale [Robinson] already knows the answer to those they are asking him in the huddle. Just try to get him as many different situations as you can, so when it happens, because inevitably it'll happen at some point, he's went through it at least one or two times."
Dart has not been perfect, and Daboll and the Giants want it that way. There have been moments when he looks the part of a raw developmental QB, like the play on which he appeared somewhat confused after squeezing through a crease of a collapsing pocket, erratically flipping the ball at the feet of running back Turbo Miller.
Yet those have been few and far between in the four sessions open to the media with a fifth coming Wednesday.
Dart closed his practice Tuesday with a great team period against a mixture of the second and third-team defenses. He punctuated a 7-of-8 passing performance by dropping a beauty of a throw in the bucket to fellow rookie Dalen Cambre on a corner route for the score.
The Giants' scouting reports on Dart were predictive in nature. Daboll loved his moxie
"He’s an instinctive player," Giants quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Shea Tierney said of Dart, whose development will continue to involve working closely with Tierney, Daboll, offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka and assistant QB coach Chad Hall. "He does a really good job of knowing where to go with the ball even if he’s not fully aware of what is going on yet as a rookie. Has really good spatial awareness. All the things we thought we saw on tape have kind of shown up when we saw him live here for the first time."
Here's a look at where the rest of the Giants' rookie class - undrafted players included - stands as spring workouts finish up and the focus turns to training camp following a six-week break to begin the summer:
You must be registered for see images attach
Abdul Carter, linebacker
Carter was the best defensive player in the Class of 2025 and was the right pick for the Giants at third overall. The fierce pass rusher came to New Jersey with Big Blue envisioning a dominant defensive front that won them their last two Super Bowls. He moves like Von Miller and his game is nowhere near its ceiling with just one season as a defensive end. With his respect for Lawrence Taylor, their exchange over the No. 56 and Taylor telling Carter that, while he would be rooting for him, to pick another number and make it his own, the Penn State star is going to be motivated to do just that.
And here's the strange thing: with all the attention paid to Dart - and rightfully so - somehow Carter's talent and opportunity to impact this defense has been somewhat undersold. We haven't even seen him have to get to his array of pass rush moves, with his quickness proving nearly impossible for any of the Giants' offensive tackles - first or second team - to stop. He's been the most impressive player on the field - and that continued with a dominant performance yet again Tuesday. It's unfair for any offensive linemen tasked to slow him down without getting their hands on him first.
"Man, he's a beast," Kayvon Thibodeaux said. "Excited to have another guy to add to the gauntlet."
You must be registered for see images
Darius Alexander, defensive line
The true impact of Alexander won't be felt until training camp, but we have missed seeing the third rounder from Toledo relegated to individual drills if not with the training staff as he works through an undisclosed injury. The Giants are seemingly playing it smart with a rookie they expect to have a significant role up front.
Cam Skattebo, running back
Like Alexander, Skattebo has been working off to the side with the training staff over the past two weeks. Still, he showed off his receiving skills early in OTAs and, to be fair, the run game won't be completely implemented until camp. There is still plenty of time for Skattebo to show what he can do.
Marcus Mbow, offensive line
Mbow has primarily been at right tackle with the second team this spring, but offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo indicated Tuesday that the fifth-round pick from Iowa has been working at different spots throughout spring workouts. He got extended time in the second half of Tuesday's practice at left tackle, manning the spot with all three teams, including the projected starters.
Thomas Fidone, tight end
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Fidone has a WR background which shows up in his route tree. He plays Y tight end and is a willing blocker with an edge. His consistent presence on the field the past six weeks is a promising sign for a player whose ACL history [two in college at Nebraska] likely led to him falling to the seventh round.
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Korie Black, cornerback
Watch for Black to get a lot of time in preseason games, and he could be a sleeper. The seventh rounder from Oklahoma State has yet to assert himself in practices attended by the media, but that does not mean he won't get an opportunity.
Da'Quan Felton, wide receiver
Felton has showcased his size and done well for himself. Seems to have a connection with Dart, which obviously helps. Just seeing him on the field, he has a great frame at 6-foot-5 and 216 pounds, so he stands out. Made a very good one-handed catch in traffic back in OTAs. Was somewhat quiet Tuesday as a couple of other rookies got chances with the first team. Overall, his proving ground will be in training camp and preseason games.
Beaux Collins, wide receiver
Collins got reps with the 1st team on Tuesday for Jalin Hyatt, who came off the field with a trainer and was getting his lower body stretched out. During 7-on-7, the former Notre Dame standout caught a touchdown on a corner fade from Russell Wilson while working with the starters. He has consistently been working with the second team offense this spring, offering inside-outside versatility.
You must be registered for see images attach
Dalen Cambre, wide receiver
Cambre was a decorated special teams ace in college, so he could make a strong move this summer to challenge Bryce Ford-Wheaton for a spot. He had 10 catches in his entire career at Louisiana, but has continued to surprise with his elusiveness and short-area quickness working in the red zone. On Tuesday, Cambre had a team-high five catches, including three from Jameis Winston during the same period in which he proved difficult to cover in tight spaces. He also hauled in a pretty touchdown pass of about 25 yards from Jaxson Dart.
Jordan Bly, wide receiver
Bly has been working in the return game on both punts and kickoffs. While he is not the front runner by any stretch, the fact that the Giants see him in that mix bodes well for his chances to make a push for the practice squad.
Juice Wells, wide receiver
Wells showed great chemistry out of the slot during OTAs with Dart, his college teammate at Ole Miss, and with Tommy DeVito. He'll be among the group of UDFA receivers with a chance to impress during training camp and in preseason games.
Trace Ford, linebacker
Ford was a six-year college player, starting at Oklahoma State, where he was for four years, and he battled injuries for most of his time there. The Sooners' edge has some skill and he has flashed at times, setting up a potential battle for a spot on the practice squad with Tomon Fox and perhaps Kenny Dyson, the former Carolina Panther and ex-Bryant star who is a minicamp tryout.
You must be registered for see images attach
O'Donnell Fortune, cornerback
Fortune was lauded for his sticky coverage last season at South Carolina and was one of the most sought-after undrafted free agents on the market. He's yet to truly carve out a role, but he does move well and that could come in camp.
TJ Moore, defensive back
Moore earned a spot on the team as a tryout at rookie minicamp and he has consistently been in a rotation in the secondary on the second and third teams this spring. He's been targeted a lot, and the extra attention now could ultimately pay dividends later this summer if he can turn some of the bumps into a learning experience. There is no substitute for reps at this level.
Makari Paige, safety
A 6-foot-3, 197-pound safety, Paige led all Michigan DBs last season with 45 tackles, which included one for loss as well as six pass breakups, two interceptions and a blocked kick on special teams. So far, he's been feeling his way in the secondary with snaps at safety and in the slot.
Jermaine Terry, tight end
He's 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, and possesses talent as a dual threat as a receiver and blocker. He's facing an uphill climb in the tight end room right now, though, so practice squad might be the realistic goal.
Jaison Williams, offensive line
The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder from Youngstown State models his game after perennial Pro Bowl tackle and future Hall of Famer Trent Williams. He's spent the spring working mostly at right guard with the third team.
Rushawn Baker, running back
The undrafted rookie from Elon signed here boasting a superb athletic profile, and he has had some hiccups early as far as drops that are to be expected.
Art Stapleton is the Giants beat reporter and NFL columnist for NorthJersey.com and The Record. For unlimited access to all Giants analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and sign up for our All In on NY Giants newsletter.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X and Instagram: @art_stapleton
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants Rookie Report: What Jaxson Dart, Class of 2025 have shown us
Continue reading...
