Giants OTAs: Jackson Dart Shines, QB Rotation Revealed

The New York Giants have kicked off their organized team activities (OTAs) for the 2025 season, and the excitement is palpable. With perfect attendance and some standout performances, particularly from the quarterback position, there's plenty for Giants fans to be optimistic about. Let's dive into the details of day two of OTAs and what it means for the team moving forward.

Perfect Attendance and Practice Schedule

Head coach Brian Daboll reported perfect attendance for the New York Football Giants, at least in terms of players being present in the building. However, some players were held out of practice due to injuries or ongoing rehabilitation. The Giants are taking a cautious approach, with Daboll emphasizing that they won't rush anyone onto the field if they're not 100% healthy.

Here's the remaining OTA practice schedule for the Giants:

• May 30th
• June 2nd and 3rd
• June 5th
• June 9th and 10th
• June 12th and 13th

Following OTAs, the team will move on to veteran mini-camp from June 17th to 19th.

Injury Updates

Several key players were held out of practice or limited in their participation:

• Malik Neighbors: Did not practice due to a toe injury that has been bothering him since his college days at LSU.
• Andrew Thomas: The Giants are being cautious with Thomas following a major injury in the regular season.
• Tyrone Tracy: Reportedly sick and did not practice.
• John Renan: The starting left guard continues to rehab from his season-ending injury last year.

Quarterback Rotation and Performance

One of the most intriguing aspects of the OTAs was the quarterback rotation and how each QB performed. The Giants have a deep and talented quarterback room, and the coaching staff is working to give each player appropriate opportunities.

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson, the veteran presence in the QB room, took the first snap of practice. His performance was a mix of highs and lows:

• Started 0 for 3 in the red zone during 7-on-7 drills
• Threw what was described as the "best throw of the day" - a fade route to Darius Slayton in the back right corner of the end zone
• In 11-on-11 drills, Wilson went 5 of 7 with 3 touchdowns

Wilson's experience and leadership are already making an impact, with offensive coordinator Bobby O'Carrick praising his influence in the locker room.

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston, known for his high-risk, high-reward style of play, had an up-and-down day:

• His first red zone pass in 7-on-7 drills was picked off by Dane Belton for a pick-six
• Nearly threw another interception on his second pass
• Bounced back in 11-on-11 drills, going 5 of 10 with 4 touchdowns

Jackson Dart

The rookie quarterback, Jackson Dart, made quite an impression in his first practice open to the media:

• Got reps with the first-team offense
• Threw a "laser" to Jaylen Hyatt in the back of the end zone for a touchdown
• Ran for a touchdown, diving for the pylon (though coaches likely prefer he protect himself in practice)
• Finished 2 of 3 with 2 passing touchdowns, 2 rushing touchdowns, and 1 interception in his reps

Dart's performance has already generated excitement among fans and media alike.

Tommy DeVito

Tommy DeVito saw limited action:

• Only attempted one pass, which was a touchdown in the corner
• Received just 4 reps, all with the reserve team

DeVito's limited reps suggest he may be facing an uphill battle to make the final roster.

Offensive Highlights

The OTA practice focused heavily on red zone and goal-line situations, leading to a high number of touchdowns. Some notable offensive highlights include:

• Jaylen Hyatt getting the bulk of first-team snaps in Malik Neighbors' absence
• Darius Slayton making an impressive catch on Wilson's fade route
• Jackson Dart connecting with Hyatt for a touchdown over tight coverage

Defensive Notes

While the offense got much of the attention, there were some interesting developments on the defensive side as well:

• First overall pick Abdul Carter played both off-ball linebacker and edge rusher during 11-on-11 goal-line series
• Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is exploring ways to get Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence on the field together
• Dane Belton made a standout play with his pick-six off Winston

Offensive Line Configurations

The Giants are experimenting with different offensive line combinations:

First Team:

• LT: James Hudson
• LG: John Renan (limited participation)
• C: John Michael Schmitz
• RG: Greg Van Roten
• RT: Jermaine Eluemunor

Second Team:

• LT: Joshua Ezeudu
• LG: Evan Neal
• C: Austin Schlottmann
• RG: Jack Curhan
• RT: Marcus Boe

Notably, Evan Neal, typically a tackle, got snaps at left guard with the second team. This move could be an attempt to find the best five-man combination for the offensive line.

Rookie and Free Agent Impressions

Several rookies and new additions to the team made positive impressions:

• Marcus Boe, a fifth-round pick, worked at both guard and tackle and received praise from teammates
• Tyler Nubin, a second-year safety, impressed veteran Javon Holland with his talent
• Deontay Banks was described as having "all the talent in the world" by his teammates

Looking Ahead

As the Giants continue through OTAs and approach mini-camp, several storylines will be worth following:

1. The ongoing quarterback competition and how reps are distributed
2. Jackson Dart's development and integration with the first-team offense
3. Evan Neal's potential transition from tackle to guard
4. The defensive scheme and how the Giants plan to utilize their talented front seven
5. The progress of injured players like Andrew Thomas and John Renan
6. The development of rookies and second-year players in key positions

Conclusion

The New York Giants' second day of OTAs provided plenty of excitement and intrigue for fans and analysts alike. With a competitive quarterback room, promising rookies, and veteran leadership, the Giants appear to be building a solid foundation for the 2025 season. As practices continue and the team moves closer to training camp, we'll gain a clearer picture of how this Giants squad is shaping up for the upcoming NFL season.

For Giants fans, there's plenty to be optimistic about. The blend of experienced veterans like Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston with exciting young talent like Jackson Dart and Abdul Carter suggests that the Giants could be a team to watch in the NFC East. As always, it's important to remember that OTAs are just the beginning of a long process, but the early signs from Giants camp are undoubtedly positive.

Stay tuned for more updates as the New York Giants continue their offseason program and prepare for what promises to be an exciting 2025 NFL season.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx5Gx9nIap4