EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Russell Wilson’s job description with the New York Giants would not say something about being a mentor to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. That does not imply he will not be one, naturally.
Wilson is the Tremendous Bowl-winning veteran who was signed to be the Giants’ starter this season. All his reps this spring are with the first-team offense.
New York traded again into the underside finish of the primary spherical to take Dart twenty fifth on this yr’s draft, and the hope is for the rookie to take a seat and study behind Wilson and Jameis Winston for many, if not all, of this yr, with Tommy DeVito additionally a part of the combo.
So there’s a pure pecking order.
“I’ve at all times seen it as you are at all times making an attempt to be the perfect model of you, and then you definitely’re at all times giving again to everyone else,” Wilson mentioned. “I believe that it is not nearly one teammate, it is about all of the teammates. It is about everyone within the constructing. It is about from all the best way to the quarterback room, to the receivers, to the operating backs, to the tight ends, to the O-line, and the connection there, all the best way to the defensive position, to the corners, and all the best way to the coaching room. … So it is like, to me, it is all inclusive, and that is at all times the strategy.”
Wilson was signed in late March to a one-year contract as a free agent. He has shortly established himself as a pacesetter and revered voice within the room.
The veteran organized a dinner earlier this week with the quarterbacks, offensive linemen and operating backs. He additionally put collectively throwing periods with completely different gamers earlier this offseason in San Diego, Los Angeles and Atlanta. His presence has made a distinction after six years of Daniel Jones.
“We’ve not had a quarterback that is going to command every little thing, and you understand precisely what you need,” vast receiver Wan’Dale Robinson mentioned. “[Wilson] has been nice.”
Wilson insists nothing has modified for him because the Giants drafted Dart within the first spherical some six weeks in the past. There isn’t any further stress to play nicely and achieve this instantly. Wilson remains to be atop the depth chart and centered on what’s on his plate.
“No, it would not change something in any respect,” he mentioned. “I believe the most important factor is for me is simply being my greatest on daily basis, main. I at all times take into consideration simply main everyone, simply main each room, each second, each time I get to step between the white strains and the chance of that.”
Wilson had a powerful day at OTAs on Thursday. He drew “oohs” and “aahs” after firing an off-balance throw deep down the left sideline beneath stress into the arms of vast receiver Darius Slayton for a 40-yard landing. It was considered one of a number of massive performs from Wilson within the apply.
He is not anxious about if or when Dart will turn out to be the Giants’ starter.
“I simply take into consideration having success at present. It is at all times been my strategy,” Wilson mentioned. “On daily basis is like I am making an attempt to be the perfect on the earth. I believe that for me, mentally, you’ve confidence in your self. You’ve confidence in what you do, your course of. I always keep the course and perceive that if I am the perfect me, I understand how nice that’s.
“And so, for me, I at all times simply keep inside. I do not actually take into consideration exterior. And I do know you guys have an excellent day job to do and every little thing else. However for me, I simply keep centered on the method of all of it.”
The Giants aren’t asking Wilson to prioritize being a mentor. They need the identical that he does. They only need him to be himself.
That may enable for Wilson and Dart to develop in a brand new offense.
“It is a pure factor simply going about what you are promoting fairly than, ‘Hey, I have to be the mentor to this man,'” coach Brian Daboll mentioned. “You already know what I imply? I believe that goes with each room. I believe it is simple to say ‘mentor.’ I imply, it is a aggressive enterprise. Everyone knows it is a aggressive enterprise. … The fellows which have performed and have expertise, they at all times give good enter to the youthful guys, and the youthful guys’ job is to take in as a lot data as they’ll from the coaches. However I believe there’s an added factor to speaking to a veteran participant and asking them about, ‘Hey, how do you see this? What would you’ve accomplished? How is your routine?’
“So that’s the reason you attempt to get some veterans so as to add to the management a part of it, which I believe we’ve got.”
With Wilson main the best way.
