Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants’ rookie gunslinger, had just delivered a masterpiece. But the most telling moment came not in the south endzone, but on a keyboard. Star wideout Malik Nabers, stuck on the sidelines after a cruel ACL tear, summed up the whole wild situation with four words aimed at Dart.

“U a troll bro 🤣 me and u gone have sum fun!!!!” Nabers seems all in. Despite putting up better numbers with Russell Wilson earlier in the season, Nabers’ recent social media tone suggests he has moved on, embracing the Dart era with swagger and fire.

The 22-year-old wide receiver started the 2025 season strong with the veteran QB, posting 14 catches for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first two games. But when Dart took over in Weeks 3 and 4, his production dropped to just 4 catches for 33 yards.

A torn ACL at the end of Week 4 ended his season abruptly. Nabers was clearly most effective with Wilson, and the offense couldn’t regain that rhythm after the QB change. However, Dart has outshined Wilson this season with better efficiency and more total touchdowns. His dual-threat playmaking has helped the Giants find rhythm, especially in their Week 6 win.

The young QB led the Giants to a 34-17 win over the Eagles, throwing for 195 yards and one touchdown, plus rushing for a 20-yard touchdown. It was his best game of the season so far and helped snap the Giants’ 10-game losing streak against the Eagles.

Dart just became one of only two quarterbacks since 1991 (the other being Patrick Mahomes) to lead his team to a touchdown on the opening drive in each of his first three career starts. That kind of early-game poise is rare, and Dart’s making it look easy.

Meanwhile, the Giants’ quarterback room could be shifting. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has suggested that Wilson may be a trade candidate ahead of the November 4 deadline. With Dart playing well, the Giants might already have what they need.

And the contrast is growing sharper by the week. The 22-year-old QB has cooked, completing 56 of 85 passes (65.9%) for 508 yds and 6 total TDs over those 3 wins, numbers that sting when laid next to the former SB champ.

Wilson signed a cheap, one-year deal with the Giants for $10.5 million, but his performance simply didn’t warrant a tenure. He completed a meager 58.9% of his throws for 786 yds, tossing 3 TDs against 3 INTs. His QBR hovered at a basement-dwelling 31.9, ranking 31st in the NFL.

Even so, there’s a market case for Wilson. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report nailed the reason any team would leap, especially the Raiders, who are struggling under Geno Smith‘s 9 INTs through 5 games. The writer argued that the primary reason Wilson might draw interest is simple: “He’s cheap.” Knox explained.

The analyst continued, “With a base salary of just $2 million, he would be a budget alternative for any team currently getting poor QB play or in need of a veteran mentor.”

The potential reunion with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas certainly hints at a soft landing for Wilson, but the rub is this: Dart made him disposable. But here’s the catch.

Just as the QB position stabilizes and the Giants look toward a bright future, the rug has been pulled out from under their best offensive weapon. 

Trade hunt begins as Nabers exits

Malik Nabers, the sensational rookie who set the franchise record for most receptions in a season (109 recs), is out for the year with an ACL injury. He was off to a hot start in 2025, catching 18 passes for 271 yds and 2 TDs in 4 games before the injury.

That hole now shifts head coach Brian Daboll’s focus from jettisoning veterans to aggressively acquiring one.

So, the attention pivots quickly to filling the void. Trade options range from the expensive splash to the sensible budget buy. Stefon Diggs, who Daboll knows from Buffalo, is a proven target who has recovered well from his own ACL issue, catching 19 of 22 passes this season.

The problem, naturally, is his three-year, $64.5 million contract. A more realistic option is the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers, who already wants out and has recorded 25 receptions for 290 yds, or the affordable Saints receiver Rashid Shaheed, who has 22 catches for 288 yds.

The Giants’ situation is an exercise in the chaotic, beautiful brutality of the NFL. One moment, they’re watching their franchise QB arrive in a flurry of record-breaking runs. Next, they’re scrambling to fill the canyon left by their star wideout’s knee injury and negotiating the trade value of the veteran they just signed.