There were questions of when we'd see Jaxon Dart, and luckily for the New Orleans Saints, they won't be the first team to play the rookie. The New York Giants made the announcement they are benching Russell Wilson in favor of Dart. This is good news for the Saints who play Dart and the Giants in Week 5.
There were three quarterbacks drafted in the top two rounds of the 2025 NFL draft. The Tennessee Titans made Cam Ward the first overall pick. The Giants traded up to grab Dart in the first round, and the Saints drafted Tyler Shough.
Ward was a day one starter, and many wonder/wondered when would be see Dart and Shough. For Dart, it only took three weeks before he was pushed into the starting lineup. A rookie quarterback showdown in Week 5 isn't completely out of the question, but it doesn't seem likely.
Giants starting Jaxon Dart this week helps out the Saints
Dart taking over for Wilson could have happened at any moment. It was a matter of when, not if. That "when" occurring a week before the Saints have to take on the Giants gives Brandon Staley a week to study professional film of Dart.
The Saints certainly scouted Dart during this year's draft cycle. They were in the market for a quarterback and ended with Shough. They had to do their due diligence on Dart as well, though, so the team should be already aware of his profile. That extra week gives the Saints a chance to see how the Chargers defend Dart and how he responds to those challenges.
Additionally, the decision to start Dart going into the game will give an idea of what offensive gameplan the Giants will implement under this starting quarterback. That's something you wouldn't have been able to truly assess if Dart entered the game halfway through.
It's important to understand this won't be the full Jaxon Dart experience, in terms of his own individual performance or what the Giants ask for him to do. Both of those aspects could grow from his first start of his career to his second start versus the Saints. Still, it'll be valuable from an information gathering standpoint. That should go a long way in crafting a gameplan to stop the rookie.