Giants Second-Year Quarterback Could Be in for a Big Year in 2026
The New York Giants are entering 2026 with big expectations on their shoulders. As many football fans know, a great team's success is usually built around how its quarterback plays. For New York's case, the second-year signal caller Jaxon Dart will have huge expectations to fill come next season. So will he rise to the occasion, or will the pressure be too much to handle?
Dart entered last season as a rookie, taking over the starting role from veteran Russell Wilson. After Dart's first game, Giants fans could already see a star in the making. He ended last season exceeding expectations, which had already been high since he was a first-round pick. The 23-year-old completed the year, starting 12 games while compiling 24 total touchdowns and throwing only five interceptions. However, the question remains, will he be able to up these numbers come 2026?
A quarterback's second year is when you truly see what they are made of, and with a revamped offense, Dart's expectations are high. This offseason, the Giants added Former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely and former Falcon Darnell Mooney to their receiving core. The G-men also got back star receiver Malik Nabers, who was recovering from a torn ACL. Dart was able to get away with some bad games last season because he was a rookie with a not-so-great offense around him, but that won't be the case next season. The good news is the 23-year-old once again has a veteran Jameis Winston behind him, who has been in the league for a decade. With a veteran QB helping him out this offseason, with another quarterback who has tons of experience and ability, Dart should be much more polished when he steps on the field next. One more thing the Giants need to make sure of is that their sophomore quarterback is able to be on the field next season. Last season, he was plagued by injuries after failing to protect himself on the run. If the Giants fix that, it will increase his ability to be on the field a ton.
What we do know is that Dart has unbelievable confidence and great ability, which we saw on display last season. If the 23-year-old avoids the highly talked-about sophomore slump, he may be able to lock up a new contract and cement himself as the Giants' future. If he doesn't, the Giants' season may go down the gutter. So could Dart’s starting job.
