At what point do you think Jaxson Dart will start for the Giants?
25 Questions in 25 Days: What we have learned about Jaxson Dart (so far) – John Schmeelk, Giants.com
Revelations about New York’s newest QB.
22) What have we learned about QB Jaxson Dart since the Giants drafted him 25th overall?
John Schmeelk: A lot, but maybe not in the ways some people might expect. While the coaches will have a great feel for how quickly he is learning the offense, there’s no way for anyone on the outside looking in, even someone like me who has watched every snap he has taken in practice, to have any real knowledge of how that process is going. The Ole Miss product has had your typical rookie quarterback ups and downs, but he does not look completely overwhelmed like some rookies do in their first spring.
Physically, Dart’s arm is more than adequate to play well in the NFL. The touch he showed at Ole Miss has been apparent in practice. He has the ability to place very catchable balls over defenders. He is a good athlete, with the twitchiness to escape from pressure and the creativity to throw on the move. His competitiveness has also been obvious.
What has really stood out for me has been his personality. After he finished his first in-person media availability during OTAs, I turned to Dan Salomone and Matt Citak and said, “He’s Captain Charisma.” Everyone raved about his personality, leadership skills and intangibles in college, and those have been apparent in how he has operated so far as a Giant.
All in all, the player has matched the college scouting report. Nothing has really surprised me. Everything I thought about the player from his college tape and the reports of his personality have matched what I have seen in person. It’s a good start, but there is a long way to go.
Eagles first-rounder Jihaad Campbell: No preference on position, just want to play football – Josh Alper, NBC Sports
The passion to play holds precedent over position for Campbell.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said earlier this month that first-round pick Jihaad Campbell will begin practicing with the team in August when he’s cleared to return from shoulder surgery and he also offered a preview of where Campbell will fit into the team’s defense.
Fangio said that Campbell will be lining up at inside linebacker next to Zach Baun while the team waits for Nakobe Dean to return from his knee injury. Fangio was also asked about the possibility of trying Campbell off the edge and said that was something that any thoughts of that would have to wait until Campbell was back on the field.
In an interview with the Eagles’ website, Campbell said his only current goal is to make that return and that he’ll be happy to fill any role the Eagles have in mind.
“That is for the coaches to decide, not me,” Campbell said. “I’m going to give it my all no matter how they decide to use me on the field. I feel like I’m a versatile player and I know I’m going to learn every day from the guys on this defense. It is going to be hard work. I know that. I want to be the best player I can be, help the defense, help the Eagles win games. That’s the role I want to have. As far as a position, nah. Let’s just play football.”
The Eagles’ recent track record of drafting defensive players bodes well for Campbell’s chances of making a positive impact wherever he lines up in the unit.
NFL insider reveals discouraging update on Commanders’ Terry McLaurin – David Harrison, USA Today
No movement on McLaurin’s deal isn’t the most reassuring sign in Washington.
We’re all pretty sure the Washington Commanders and receiver Terry McLaurin’s contract extension is a when, not an if, scenario. Still, every day that goes by, the panic meter goes up just a tick.
Making one of his regular appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter fielded a question about the situation brewing inside the Commanders’ building, and offered an update that is more of a ‘no news is bad news’ scenario than anything.
“There’s no update, which is the update, and that’s the problem,” Schefter said about McLaurin and his negotiations with Washington. “The problem is with this particular situation, I think Terry McLaurin is going to argue that we’ve seen other wide receivers, who his numbers are comparable to, like Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, and DK Metcalf, get paid over $30 million a year this offseason. And I think the Commanders then can say, ‘Yes, but Mike Evans, who also has had comparable numbers, is at $24 million.’ So there really is quite a difference, and a gap, between what both sides would want.”
Many in the media have projected McLaurin’s extension to put him in the $30+ million range per year, so if the Commanders are trying to get him to take an Evans-like deal, then that could be where the hangup is, for sure.
Of course, McLaurin’s team would also argue that Evans was 31 when he signed his current deal while he doesn’t hit 30 until this September.
Also working against Washington in that argument is the presence of receiver Chris Godwin with the Buccaneers, who also took a deal in the $20 million range per year, but provides a bona fide second option when healthy to take coverage and pressure off of Evans.
While Deebo Samuel is expected to provide some of that for McLaurin this season, it is yet to be proven that will pan out the way everyone believes it will, and even then, neither man is under contract beyond 2025, currently.
Despite this non-update of an update, there is still little reason to be alarmed as Schefter himself also went on to agree, there is little doubt McLaurin and Washington will come to an agreement, even if it takes some time to get there.
