Former GM blasts Giants for not embracing 'best chance to win'

Ever since the opening night of the 2025 NFL Draft, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has repeatedly said that veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will start over rookie Jaxson Dart for the club's regular-season opener at the Washington Commanders on Sept. 7.

However, former NFL general manager and current ESPN personality Mike Tannenbaum made it known during a Tuesday appearance on "SportsCenter" that he thinks the Giants are making a mistake following the team's three preseason victories. 

"Jaxson Dart, how soon does he start? If it was up to me, it would have been three months ago," Tannenbaum said during the segment, per Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media. "He has outplayed Russell Wilson. He is the best quarterback on the New York Giants. Every game he doesn’t start is, to me, not giving them the best chance to win. He has played with energy. He’s played with enthusiasm. Knows what to do. I think he should start."

For an article published on Monday, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports gave Dart an "A+" grade for the rookie's three preseason performances and said that the 22-year-old "perfectly blended quick decision-making with an occasional dime down the field and added a sprinkle of his athleticism as a scrambler in all three contests." 

According to Fox Sports, Dart completed 32-of-47 passes for 372 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions over his three August appearances. He also contributed six carries for 52 yards and an additional score. To compare, Wilson connected on 10-of-14 pass attempts for 136 yards and an interception. 

That said, such stats are largely meaningless since Wilson and Dart were never competing for the starting job. Following the Giants' preseason finale versus the New England Patriots last week, Dart acknowledged that "Russ is the starter" and "has completely earned that role." Meanwhile, multiple stories shared throughout the summer have touched upon how Wilson has established himself as "a vocal leader in the meeting room and on the practice field" with the Giants. 

In time, Dart may receive opportunities to show that he gives the 2025 Giants "the best chance to win" meaningful games. Unless Wilson produces a nightmare performance at Washington's Northwest Stadium, he should remain atop the Big Blue depth chart through at least the start of the Giants' Week 2 game at the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 14.