New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart is making strides in the opening stages of his first training camp. The first-year signal-caller said he can already feel the difference from one day to the next.
"I can definitely feel a difference in the first day [last Wednesday] to even today," Dart said on Sunday. "Just that the game's starting to slow down a little bit the more that I get comfortable with the plays and the system."
Reporters at Sunday's practice declared it Dart's best in his young career.
"I felt confident in the different installs that we had, and I felt at the same time the coaches gave me a lot of freedom," Dart said. "So I was able to make some checks that I wanted to, and I feel like that just allowed me to play just faster and be able to make quicker decisions."
Running plays for the first time in camp comes with some growing pains. Even for top-flight passers, there will be good days and bad days. For Dart, working through issues each day is an integral part of the development process.
"Just trying to take advantage of the opportunities that I get. Trying to study late as much as I can," Dart said. "I'm learning every second."
Coach Brian Daboll has made it clear that Russell Wilson is the current starter, but has been less clear about the primary backup role, where Dart, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito are battling.
If Dart moves into the No. 2 role early in camp, he could eventually push Wilson for the starting job during the 2025 season.
The Ole Miss product continues to learn on the fly, gaining experience under center, utilizing a hard count and adjusting to NFL nuances.
The book on Dart entering the draft was that he was a raw prospect with high upside but could use some seasoning. For the rookie, he doesn't want to lose his gunslinger mentality, but knows in the NFL, the windows are tighter.
"I don't want to play like a robot," Dart said. "I think that's just my play style. When I'm on the field, I'm going to be aggressive in any situation. A quote that we go by in the quarterback room is, 'Being aggressive but not reckless.' So, when you have opportunities to put the dagger in, that's what you have to do. And, at the same time, you can't be reckless."
The faster Dart learns the difference between being aggressive and reckless in the NFL, the quicker he'll be ready to eventually take over as the starter.
