Jaxson Dart Talks Approach to Giants' QB Depth Chart, 'I Haven't Really Sat Before'

Jaxson Dart says heading into New York Giants training camp as a third-string quarterback will be a new experience for him.

The No. 25 pick of the 2025 NFL draft is set to join a quarterback room led by two NFL veterans in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.

Dart said he couldn't remember sitting behind a starting quarterback even the elementary school or middle school level, according to MSG Network's Madelyn Burke.

“I haven’t really sat before,” Dart said, per Ed Valentine of Big Blue View.

Dart began his college career as a backup at USC, but spent most of that stretch sidelined by injury before taking over for injured third-year starter Kedon Slovis in November of his freshman 2021 season.

With the Giants, Dart said his focus will be on helping the team win rather than climbing the depth chart.

“I’m a competitor, so I’m going to come to work each and every day and do my best to make everybody around me better," Dart said, per Valentine. "I understand what the situation is, but for me and myself, I care about winning. There’s nothing fun about losing.

“So it doesn’t matter where you’re at on the depth chart, if you’re playing this much or not playing this much, if you’re losing, it sucks. So for me, I want to make the team better, and that’s my focus.”

Dart got his first NFL practice reps when Giants rookie minicamp began on Friday.

When asked about the Giants' veteran quarterbacks on Friday, Dart said that Wilson and Winston have "been great."

"They were some of the first people to text me when I got drafted. And I thought that was just super cool," Dart said, per Giants.com's Dan Salomone. "Those are those are guys that I've looked up to for such a long time. I've said this before, I remember I was wearing Russell's jersey with the Seahawks when he won a Super Bowl. So, like I said, these guys have been people who I've really looked up to. And I hold them in the highest regard.

"I think for me, being in this situation, being able to be a sponge and soak in all the information that I can, will help elevate me. And then at the same time, I just want to compete and make everybody else better in the room as well."

The Giants sent the No. 34 pick, as well as two third-round selections, to the Houston Texans in order to trade back up into the first round and draft Dart.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll confirmed after the draft that Wilson would head into the 2025 season as QB1. Wilson is a on a one-year deal, however, and the draft capital spent on Dart indicates the franchise could be hoping to see him earn a larger role in the future.