Will QB Jaxson Dart break out in Year 2? Giants and NFL insiders weigh in

Those closest to Jaxson Dart seem to think something special is brewing in East Rutherford.

The New York Giants quarterback enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign, throwing for 2,722 yards and 15 passing touchdowns while adding 487 yards and nine rushing scores on the ground.

If you buy into what his teammates, coaches, and NFL analysts are saying, Dart's poised to do even better in 2026.

Dart's teammates and coaches speak out

New tight end Isaiah Likely watched the "swaggy" 23-year-old closely during OTAs and came away impressed, calling Dart "really what you look for in a starting quarterback."

Head coach John Harbaugh seems to be in agreement, noting how Dart's adjustment to the new offense has gone "really well."

Harbaugh was also keen to highlight Dart's attention to detail.

What the analysts are saying about Dart

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo has been tracking Dart's development and sees a path to a breakout year.

NFL insider Nate Tice believes there's a specific player Dart should model his game after.

Where Dart needs to improve in Year 2

As with any second-year quarterback, there are plenty of areas for improvement for Dart, including his red zone efficiency and limiting careless penalties.

Three other points stand out above the rest.

Dart must protect himself from injuries

At the top of the list is learning when to tuck and run or throw the ball away, and it's not an easy thing to get right, considering how dangerous he is with his legs.

"I remember coming away really impressed with Jaxson and his accuracy," new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said earlier this year.

"And then I didn't know, back then, a year ago or two years ago, I didn't know how tough he was and how good a runner he was. He was a really good, sneaky, good runner."

After missing time last year due to injuries picked up while running the ball, Dart knows he must make sound decisions in those scenarios.

But he also sounded like he'd do whatever it takes to move the chains in key situations.

Dart's deep ball needs improvement

Dart completed 32% of his pass attempts of 20-plus air yards last season, which ranked 30th out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks.

Dart has flagged the decision on going deep versus the check-down as a focus area, and OC Matt Nagy and passing game coordinator Brian Callahan will have input on how that develops.

For now, it's still a work in progress.

Dart must get to grips with new scheme, new faces

Likely is just one of many newcomers to the offense, with veteran wideouts such as Odell Beckham, Calvin Austin, Darnell Mooney, and Juju Smith-Schuster joining in free agency alongside rookie Malachi Fields.

There are also changes on the offensive line, with 2026 first-rounder Francis Mauigoa arriving to shore up the trenches.

Let's not forget that Dart has also only spent a year building chemistry with holdovers Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers.

While he's got a long way to go, with the weapons around him and Harbaugh overseeing the operation, the case for a big Year 2 is easy to make.