Chargers facing a mystery man in Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart

The scouting report on Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants’ rookie quarterback, will be on the thin side when compared to the Chargers’ past three opponents at the position. The video of Dart in the NFL won’t be as comprehensive as it would be for two veterans or even a second-year QB.

However …

“I’m preparing for him the same as if I’m playing Pat Mahomes,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said, referring to the Kansas City Chiefs’ standout quarterback, a three-time Super Bowl champion in five trips to the big game over the past six years, and a two-time NFL MVP.

It would be a sound approach come Sunday, when the Chargers (3-0) face Dart and the Giants (0-3) in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Chargers should be as wary as if they were facing Mahomes, as they did during a 27-21 victory over the Chiefs in the season opener, or Geno Smith, as they did in a 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, or Bo Nix, as they did in a 23-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 3.

Mahomes and Smith are well-known veteran quarterbacks, with scouting reports filled to overflowing with all sorts of information. Every team knows a great deal about their strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes. The report on Nix, in his second season, is catching up quickly.

What do we know about Dart?

For starters, Dart was installed this week at the Giants’ starting quarterback for the rest of the season, replacing veteran Russell Wilson, after New York dropped its third consecutive game to start the season. Dart has taken six total snaps without throwing a pass in two limited appearances.

Dart has rushed two times for a total of 0 yards, once for a 3-yard gain in a 22-9 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday and once for a 3-yard loss in a 40-37 overtime defeat to the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 14. He didn’t play in the Giants’ 21-6 season-opening loss to the Washington Commanders.

That’s not much to go on, so what else is there?

Dart was drafted 25th overall by the Giants after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Mississippi after starting out at USC. He played six games for the Trojans as a freshman in 2021, completing 61.9% of his passes for 1,353 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

Then he departed for Ole Miss and got better and better with each passing season. He completed 69.3% of his throws for an SEC-leading 4,279 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions in 13 games in 2024. His passer rating of 180.7 led the nation among FBS quarterbacks.

OK, that says he was tough to defend while playing in a top conference.

“Super-talented guy,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “First-round pick for a reason. Great college career. Played in a very versatile offense in college where (Ole Miss coach) Lane Kiffin does a great job with quarterbacks. He’s run a lot of concepts. He’s run tempo (offense). He’s run pro style. He’s run everything. Then he gets there (to the Giants) and you look at his preseason success where he moved the team pretty much every time he was in there. So, it’s a great challenge.”

Minter estimated that Dart played 70 snaps during the Giants’ three preseason games, victories over the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and New England Patriots. Dart then assumed the backup’s role, yielding to the veteran Russell when the regular season began earlier this month.

“It’s not a great sample (size),” Minter said.

Now, making his first NFL start, Dart will face one of the NFL’s six undefeated teams in the Chargers, one of the league’s best defenses through the first three weeks of the season. The Chargers’ defense is fourth in points allowed (16.7 per game) and eighth in net yards (276.7 per game).

“He seems to have, really, a lot of confidence and moxie, I would say,” Minter said. “So, I don’t think he’ll be intimidated by any means. We look at it as a great challenge. Him and their entire offense. They have a lot of good skill players. They’ve had some tough games against tough teams.

“Any time you don’t really have NFL film on a player, there’s a little bit of the unknown. There’s a little bit of the unknown (because) him and Russell Wilson have different strengths as quarterbacks. Just the unknown of maybe they tweak some things, as I would with a (young) player.”

CHARGERS (3-0) at GIANTS (0-3)

When: 10 a.m. PT Sunday

Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV/Radio: CBS (Ch. 2); 640 AM/94.3 FM (Spanish)