Giants receiver Zach Pascal shook his head after follow final week and smiled ear-to-ear.
He was reflecting on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first coaching camp. And he was unable to comprise his enthusiasm.
“I ain’t gonna lie: He’s talented. He’s talented as f–k,” Pascal, 30, the eighth-year veteran, mentioned of Dart. “I’m blessed to be able to be in camp with him, but I’m pretty sure later in his future career, he’s gonna be one of them ones.”
“He’s gonna be one of them ones,” he repeated.
Pascal was the receiver who made the highlight-reel, one-handed stab of Dart’s again shoulder landing throw in opposition to the Jets in the course of the Giants’ first joint follow in Florham Park.
The previous Colt, Eagle and Cardinal mentioned Dart’s vitality and intangibles stand out as particular, particularly as a rookie.
“Dart has the swag you want to see in a QB that gives confidence to the whole offense,” Pascal mentioned. “When you see him make a throw or get excited and make a run, he has that energy and excitement that trickles throughout the whole offense to make us believe in him.”
“It makes us believe in all the QBs, but he has that energy that will get guys going, and you don’t see that from a rookie quarterback all the time,” he added. “But he got that.”
Nonetheless, Dart’s vibes and vitality wouldn’t imply something if the quarterback couldn’t make performs. That’s why the previous Ole Miss star is actually standing out.
His former Rebels teammate, huge receiver Juice Wells Jr., even sees a distinction from Dart’s last school season.
“I’m so happy for Dart right now, just the way I’ve seen him grow from college ball to the NFL and the pros,” Wells, 24, mentioned after juking Jets defenders for an 11-yard acquire all the way down to the 1-yard line to arrange Dart’s first NFL dashing landing. “His decision-making simply received so significantly better the way in which he thinks and carries himself.
“Dart is in the locker room for hours after practice putting in work. So I’m excited to see what else he has in store.”
Wells mentioned Dart’s pre-snap reads on protection have gotten higher even from simply Might to August, like his verify on the line to Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s landing catch in opposition to the Buffalo Payments within the preseason opener.
“[It’s] him reading the defense,” Wells mentioned. “Him making cover-0 checks, checks to alert the run a unique method if see something completely different with the safeties coming down or something with a unique protection. He’s noticing all these issues.
“At Ole Miss, sometimes you could see certain plays he shouldn’t have made that throw or whatever, but here it’s obvious it’s day and night,” he added. “This guy — shoutout to the coaches who are helping him out, Coach Kaf [offensive coordinator Mike Kafka] and all those guys. He’s a product of what you put in is what you get out. That guy’s in the building all the time, so it’s gonna pay off for him well this season. I’m so excited for him. I can’t wait.”
Dart’s on-target throw to Wells was a brief completion that sprung a pleasant acquire. However the rookie’s downfield work and manipulation of the protection in follow is what opened the veteran’s eyes.
“I’ve seen him make throws I haven’t even seen vets make,” Pascal mentioned.
This goes again to the spring, not lengthy after the Giants traded as much as choose Dart No. 25 total within the NFL Draft’s first spherical.
The play name was a “sail” idea, “meaning you’ve got the go ball, the middle out and the flat. The three-level flood” on one aspect of the sphere, Pascal mentioned.
And Dart duped a defender to press all the way down to the flat to open up the center out for a strike completion to Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
“He pumped the flat, buddy came down, and he hit the middle out on a rope to Ihmir,” Pascal mentioned. “It was like he already planned like that’s how he was gonna set it up. It was an obvious throw to the flat. He pumped the flat and threw it over top, a dime to Ihmir. And I was like, ‘OK.’”
It’s not simply that Dart made the play. It’s additionally the sign it sends to the remainder of the receivers: be prepared. It doesn’t matter what route you’re operating, the ball may be there.
“When we’re in meetings, and there’s a couple throws he made where the whole room’s like ‘oh, God, he really was throwing that,’” Pascal mentioned. “Now we gotta do a better job of making sure we’re open so he can throw it.”
That galvanizes the talent gamers. Dart reveals perception in them, in order that they present confidence in him.
“Absolutely. Hell yeah. Got us all believing,” Pascal mentioned. “So now everybody’s on the field trying to get open. That ball may come. You never know… Everybody on the field, you’re running your route like you’re gonna hit it because he just may throw you that.”
“And that’s a positive feeling for a receiver,” he added. “OK, I know this is not just a ‘love of the route’ route, just clearing out for someone else. No, you might actually get the ball. That’s what he brings to the offense.”
Head coach Brian Daboll, Dart’s largest supporter, is flexing his confidence in Dart’s talents and make-up increasingly more on daily basis.
“He’s got good command of the operation,” Daboll mentioned after Dart’s 14-of-16 passing efficiency in opposition to the Jets. “He sees things well. He plays fast in the pocket, [has] ability to throw the ball with different arm angles, anticipation, doesn’t hold on to the ball.”
“[He] has an opportunity to make some plays with his legs,” the coach continued. “[He’s] athletic, [has] leadership, toughness… [We have to] keep growing him, but he’s played well.”
Dart’s postgame remarks additionally stood out on Saturday evening.
Whereas remaining humble about trying as much as all his veteran quarterback teammates, Dart spoke as a pacesetter of the crew in his personal proper with an emphasis on elevating the usual after the Giants’ 31-12 exhibition win over the Jets.
“I think that the most important thing is us getting the win. I want us to continue to expect these kinds of things as a team,” he mentioned, “and build on these moments and just have fun winning and playing the game. The most important thing was to come out here and win.”
Russell Wilson actually helped create some buzz across the Giants on Saturday, as nicely, by heaving that 80-yard bomb to Beaux Collins to kick begin the preseason blowout.
Dart’s youth, enthusiasm, management and efficiency are very clearly contagious, although. And Wells mentioned he can’t wait to look at the place this goes — whether or not Wells makes the crew or not.
“I’m not gonna lie, bro, I haven’t been here. I didn’t pay attention to their season last year. I heard a lot of things or whatever,” Wells mentioned. “But bro, I’m so excited to see what this team’s gonna do.”
“I want to be here. I want to play for the New York Giants,” he added. “But when I’m not, I’m nonetheless gonna tune into these guys. I wish to be right here and see what these guys received happening. The vitality, the vibes, the way in which coach — it’s simply superb. I can’t even put it into phrases. I’m so excited for this crew.
“I can’t wait.”
Initially Revealed: August 18, 2025 at 9:12 AM EDT
