Predicting when rookies will start is always hard. Some teams will start a rookie right away. Some will make them wait to get snaps until they’ve “grasped the offense” enough.
Both philosophies are fine, but some work out more times than others.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports staked his claim that Russell Wilson will be the starter in New York during Week 1, but predicted former Ole Miss Rebels football star Jaxson Dart to usurp him under center for the Giants by Week 9.
“Most teams probably do not look at its schedule with the expectation that a rookie quarterback will be inserted for a particular game. In Dart's case, attempting to do just that may prove to be an exercise in futility. Aside from the Week 14 bye, there is no obvious point in the schedule for Dart to make his debut; but that feels too late in the schedule,” Edwards wrote.
“Veteran Russell Wilson has collected enough goodwill in his playing career to occupy the starting job temporarily, but eventually he will give way to Dart. The coaching staff was evidently very high on the prospect and the idea of not giving that player ample time to fulfill that vision in what could be leadership's final season would be misguided.
“Allowing Dart to sit and learn for eight weeks before taking over the starting role denotes patience, but also allows him to make his debut at home against a traditionally good 49ers defense. Five games is a good sample size for the two parties to assess what worked and where improvement could be made during the bye week before closing out his rookie campaign with a four-game stretch that includes two division rivals.”
The Giants signed Wilson this offseason, knowing they were going to take their quarterback of the future in this year's NFL draft.
Wilson will have the starting role for right now until Dart is ready, but fans will be calling for Jaxson to start at the first sign of the 36-year-old looking like the ghost of the Denver Broncos quarterback he was before being paid to leave the Mile High City.
Why wouldn’t you want to start your future face of the franchise early? The Washington Commanders employed that very strategy, and they were one game away from a Super Bowl appearance.