Why Giants fans should pump the brakes on Jaxson Dart's promising preseason debut

After Saturday’s performance at Buffalo, you can’t blame Giants fans who dream of seeing Jaxson Dart start NFL games. Well, maybe you can.

Dart’s day was great. He was as smooth and confident as one would hope a rookie quarterback could be. His 28-yard touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey was on the money even though Dart watched it from the turf after being drilled by Bills rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders.

But fans have to remember it was one preseason game. A promising one, but still just a first step.

Even Dart kept the right perspective, telling coach Brian Daboll that he thought his performance in the Giants’ 34-25 victory was “mid.”

Wait, he meant he was average? Just OK?

His reasoning showed his great awareness.

“I just felt like the only reason that we stopped ourselves from scoring touchdowns were just some of those third downs and not converting,” Dart said. “And I feel like personally, I’m really hard on myself. So in those moments, like I want to capitalize on that.”

He’s right, even if he probably was harsher than most observers. There was a lot to like about him going 12-for-19 for 154 yards and a QB rating of 106.0.

The mobility.

The arm strength.

How he sidestepped defenders and kept his eyes downfield.

How he didn’t look flustered against the Bills’ first-team defense during his first series.

But consider this stat line from a recent rookie quarterback’s preseason debut: 5-for-5 on his first drive for 67 yards and a touchdown pass. He also did that at home, giving fans reason to believe he had a big future.

That player? Daniel Jones in 2019. For good measure, he was 11-for-14 for 161 yards and a touchdown in his second game.

Jones now is with the Colts after being released by the Giants last season.

This isn’t to say that Dart will be Jones, who had higher expectations as a top-10 pick. It’s a reminder to take the good from one preseason game and hope it translates.

Dart demonstrated why the Giants traded up to draft him 25th overall in the first round. Daboll didn’t even criticize him for not sliding at the end of his 19-yard run, calling it a good play.

“He’s been a good runner in college. We’ll do a good job with working out the kinks of him carrying the ball,” Daboll said. “But I have confidence in his instincts and what he sees out there and when he needs to do it. We’ll try to minimize as many hits as you can, but he’s a competitor and I like that about him.”

Dart probably will add sliding to his homework list. But it’s fair to wait and see how he fares Saturday against the Jets before leaning into bigger judgments.

There were other noteworthy moments Saturday:

• The offensive line didn’t give up a sack on 51 pass attempts.

•  Running back Dante Miller’s speed in the open field was promising in his fight for a roster spot.

• Deonte Banks’ play demonstrated that the Giants need the cornerback to be more consistent. He didn’t show much that said he has a leg up in his battle with Cor’Dale Flott. In fact, the play in which he didn’t track the ball on a near-catch by the Bills showed why he’s in this position to begin with.

• The defensive line, even without Dexter Lawrence, looks great as advertised with its depth and ability to create pressure.

•  Starting Russell Wilson was a great move by Daboll. It let fans know to expect him and the other starters to get more reps in the final two games.

Wilson was solid in his first series. He didn’t show much downfield throwing, but without Malik Nabers or Darius Slayton playing, the Giants played it safe to get him in a decent rhythm.

Ultimately, Dart’s fine day was about showing why the Giants had faith in drafting him. Time will tell if that’s right. It might be a long time, given that Wilson is locked in to start and Dart could sit out this season unless plans change.

For now, be encouraged by Dart’s start. It could foreshadow good things.

Or not.

Just slow down the hype train and let Dart decide where it goes, not anyone else.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.