One drive was enough for Jaxson Dart to wrap up a phenomenal preseason.
Dart played four series, though, slightly veering off script of what's been a stellar first look over the past three weeks.
Still, Dart threw his third touchdown pass in as many games, showed off his fleet feet and strong arm in the New York Giants' 42-10 preseason finale win against the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
"We're kind of on a day-to-day plan with the young quarterback. Every day we're learning something," Giants head coach Brian Daboll said of his rookie first-rounder. "We'll keep on building him. I think (quarterbacks coach) Shea (Tierney) and (offensive coordinator Mike) Kafka have done a really good job with him. I think he's done a good job, credit the player first and foremost. Being a rookie quarterback is not easy. Being a quarterback is not easy. So, he knows he's got a lot of things to work on. But he's made progress every day. I'm glad we drafted him. I'm glad he's our guy."
In three preseason tilts, Dart, who's No. 3 on the team's unofficial depth chart behind starter Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, completed 32 of 47 passes for 372 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding six carries for 52 yards and another score. Against the Patriots, he was 6 of 12 for 81 yards and a touchdown with a 23-yard scramble thrown into the mix, though that ended with a fumble and a brief concussion scare.
"I feel like whenever my number is called then I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna play my game," Dart said of what lies ahead. "That's just my mindset any time I touch the field. Obviously, you know, Russ is the starter, he's gonna do amazing. He's had such a great camp and has played at an elite level. My job is just to be the best teammate and be ready whenever it is. But I'm excited for Russ and what he's going to be doing this year."
Dart hooked up with Gunner Olszewski on an improvised 50-yard gain Thursday and hit Greg Dulcich on a 7-yard laser to finish off the opening drive of the game.
However, his next three drives came and went without points, with his fourth seeing him fumble and hit his head on the turf. Dart was then evaluated for a concussion and relieved by Winston, who promptly tossed a 27-yard TD to Jalin Hyatt.
That was Dart's last play of the game and the preseason, one in which the 2025 NFL Draft's No. 25 overall pick impressed versus the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Patriots.
While the stats might not have glowed in this one, Dart's potential and skillset were apparent. Though he looked a bit uncomfortable at times in the pocket, he looked great throwing on the run. He sprinted forward out of pressure and, looking like a point guard, dished off a fast-break pass to Olszewski for the aforementioned 50-yard gainer. A couple plays later, Dart threw a dart to Dulcich for a red zone score.
A Dart sack and a holding penalty led to a third-and-24 on the ensuing drive that couldn't be converted. The following possession saw a Dart deep ball bounce off Hyatt's shoulder pads for a three-and-out.
Hyatt flat-out dropped another third-down deep ball on the fourth series. The Giants went for it on fourth-and-4 from their 45-yard line and Dart scrambled up the middle. He showed a bit of immaturity when he got the first down and didn't slide but instead welcomed contact and fumbled. Possession was saved by a defensive holding call, but Dart was ushered into the blue tent for evaluation.
By the time he emerged, Winston had chucked a moonball to Hyatt, who came down with this one.
"I wouldn't coach it out of him," Daboll said of Dart's competitive nature leading him to stay upright on his carry. "There's just certain times that you've got to make the right decision. I would say this particular game is probably a good time to slide, third preseason game. Every situation's different. Different quarterbacks that could run and are pretty productive running the football. There's a time and a place. You like to take as few a hits as you can, but I like Jaxson's competitiveness, his toughness. You've got to make the right decision, and those are split-second decisions. I trust him. I trust the guys that have been around our guys. I trust them to do the right thing. But I'll never take his competitiveness away."
It wasn't a perfect preseason finale for Dart when considering how marvelous he's been throughout. Nonetheless, he still stoked Big Blue fans' optimism of what lies ahead.
If the Giants struggle out of the gates, it will be interesting to see how long the wait will be before Dart gets his number called in the regular season.
For now, though, perhaps the most memorable moment took place before kickoff, when Dart and No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter took to the field as the Giants team captains. It was a scene that Giants fans are likely hoping will be the first of many autumns to come.
