Jaxson Dart's Leadership Addressed by John Harbaugh in New Video Ahead of Giants' Season

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is already impressed with young quarterback Jaxson Dart.

"I do think he's obsessed. I believe that he really, really wants to be good," he said on the Bleav show with Tom Papa and Carl Banks (15-minute mark). "He's kinda got the 'it factor' from a leadership standpoint, because he's respected by the guys. I mean they just know how hard he works, how much he cares. And they respect his talent, of course. He's got a little juice, he's got some charisma."

Dart, 23, had an impressive rookie season, throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.7 percent of his passes and rushing for 487 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 appearances (12 starts).

While the rebuilding Giants were just 4-8 in his starts, he more than looked the part as the future franchise quarterback (and was a major upgrade over veteran Russell Wilson, who was 0-3 as the starter).

The Giants, meanwhile, began the process of fully rebuilding around him, hiring Harbaugh in the offseason, adding a slew of pass-catchers (rookie Malachi Fields, veterans Isaiah Likely, Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, Braxton Berrios, Odell Beckham Jr. and JuJu Smith-Schuster) and drafting guard Francis Mauigoa, among other moves.

In Dart, wideout Malik Nabers and bruising running back Cam Skattebo, the Giants have the makings of a solid core group. If that trio is healthy, the Giants could take a nice jump from last year's 4-13 record, given a defense with ample dynamic pass-rushers and a number of offseason additions that should help patch up last season's holes.

There is reason for optimism, in other words. But it begins and ends with the play of Dart.