When did Giants realize Jaxson Dart may be better than Russell Wilson?

Shortly after the news broke on Tuesday that the 0-3 New York Giants were benching veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart for this coming Sunday's home game against the 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers, Super Bowl champion head coach Bruce Arians revealed he would've made that decision at least "three weeks ago." 

It sounds like some people within the Giants are also second-guessing how the club handled Dart from springtime workouts through the end of August. 

Did New York Giants make a mistake with Jaxson Dart, Russell Wilson during the summer?

"In the preseason, Dart completed 32 of 47 passes (68 percent) for 372 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions," NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY explained. "He ran for 52 yards and another touchdown. He was ready. It’s why (head coach) Brian Daboll made him Wilson’s backup to start the season. Had they actually held an open competition during camp, some within the building, sources told SNY, believe Dart would have won it outright."

On the same night that the Giants made Dart a first-round draft pick back in April, Daboll told reporters that Wilson "will be our starter." From there, Daboll and Giants general manager Joe Schoen repeatedly told anybody who would listen that they wanted Dart to develop as an unused backup through at least a portion of the fall. Perhaps that plan should've changed before New York played its first preseason game on Aug. 9.

"He blew away the staff and front office with his ability to take classroom teachings to on-field practices," Hughes said about Dart. "Young quarterbacks, especially green ones, often look out of place in organized team activities, minicamp, training camp. That was never the case with Dart. He continued to exceed expectations even as they increased what they asked of him."

Meanwhile, Wilson largely left much to be desired with his regular-season play outside of when he passed for 450 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants' 40-37 Week 2 overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.  

Why New York Giants went to Jaxson Dart now

Throughout the spring and summer, some speculated that Daboll and Co. would wait until at least the Giants' Week 5 game against what is currently a winless New Orleans Saints (0-3) side to turn to Dart. For a piece published Wednesday morning, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shared why those within the Giants are comfortable with starting Dart versus what The Athletic's Dan Duggan referred to as a "suffocating" Chargers defense. 

"Dart has hit every benchmark coach Brian Daboll and the staff set in this process," Fowler wrote. "He proved to be a highly motivated fast learner in the offseason and sustained that momentum throughout camp. In preseason games, he made quick decisions and showed deft ball placement. He's also, as one team source put it, 'tough as [expletive].' All that, coupled with his mobility, gives the Giants a better chance to win games at this stage, despite the inevitable miscues that come with a rookie quarterback. It's not complicated. Dart appears ready."

As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Giants as 6.5-point underdogs against the Chargers. If Dart guides Big Blue to an upset win at MetLife Stadium this weekend, some inevitably will wonder what could have been for the 2025 Giants had he ended August atop the club's depth chart.