The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.
QB Russell Wilson has been what you expected on and off the field since the Giants signed him.
John Schmeelk: Fact – He has checked every box. He looks just like the player I thought he would on the field, down to the way the ball comes out of his hand and the trajectory that it takes on the way to his receiver. I also expected him to be a great leader, but even with that caveat, I've been taken aback by the effusive praise heaped upon him by his teammates. The number of genuine responses from every single teammate that has talked about him is unlike anything I have heard in my 18 years working for the team. The level to which his teammates appreciate his clear and direct communication and believe how much he cares about them is something I haven't heard about an individual player on the Giants. And every teammate says the same exact things about him, almost verbatim, which speaks to his consistency. We'll see what it looks like on the field when the real football starts, but his impact on the locker room has already been significant.
Dan Salomone: Fact – I had high expectations for him, and the 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion has done nothing but live up to his resume. To Schmeelk's point, every person has talked about how "purposeful" he is with his communication. He has taken command of the team in every facet. He also still clearly has the tangibles, particularly on the deep passes.
Matt Citak: Fact– Wilson came to the Giants with a glowing reputation as a leader and teammate, and while he's only been in the building for a few months now, this has already been on full display. The way he props up his teammates no matter the situation is something that will benefit this team, especially with so many young, talented playmakers on both sides of the ball. On the field, Wilson throws the ball with tremendous accuracy, which we've seen for years, and with great power. Whether it's a short screen pass or a deep shot down the field, you can see Wilson's strength every time he releases the ball. He doesn't make mistakes often, which is refreshing to see from the quarterback position. Overall he's left me impressed with the start of his Giants career.
QB Jaxson Dart has been what you expected on and off the field since the Giants drafted him.
John Schmeelk: Fact – This will be a good preview of "25 questions in 25 days" coming up in the next few weeks on Giants.com. From a physical standpoint, he looks just like the guy I watched on tape and live in Mobile during the draft process. The arm talent and the athleticism both check out as NFL-level traits. All reports indicated he would impress with his leadership and competitiveness, and that has been the case as well. Easy fact.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – He has been more. As a Big Ten guy, I don't watch every game in the big, bad SEC. So, I had some catching up to do. I'm going "fiction" here just because I came into it with a blank slate and didn't know exactly what to expect. My first impression was "that's a Daboll guy." He has that fire to lay it all on the line, which endears him to his teammates. Now Dart gets to benefit from proven veterans and coaches who know a thing or two about putting together a plan to develop rookie quarterbacks.
Matt Citak: Fact – Dart has been as advertised thus far. Since being drafted, the young quarterback has expressed a level of confidence in himself that you like to see from the quarterback position. This confidence was evident during team drills along with his press conferences with the media. On the field, Dart has looked like a promising rookie quarterback. There have been some throws he's made where it is easy to understand why he was a first-round pick, and other plays that remind you he's still 22 years old and hasn't taken a snap in the NFL yet. There is a learning curve for rookies in the NFL, and Dart is finding his way through it right now. But so far, I will say I have been impressed with the limited action we've seen from him.
See all of the action from Giants Minicamp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
WR Darius Slayton (18),WR Malik Nabers (1),OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR Dalen Cambre (5),WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17),WR Montrell Washington (80),WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87),K Graham Gano (9) WR Da'Quan Felton (9),WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81),WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
S Makari Paige (38)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54), LB Chris Board (49) and ILB Ty Summers (47)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OL Jaison Williams (68),OL Marcus Mbow (71),G Jon Runyan Jr. (76),G Austin Schlottmann (65),C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), C Bryan Hudson (60), G Aaron Stinnie (64),G Greg Van Roten (74) T James Hudson III (55),T Stone Forsythe (70)T Evan Neal (73),C Jimmy Morrissey (67), T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Malik Nabers (1) and QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR and OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Art Green (35)
S Jevón Holland (8)
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), CB Art Green (35)
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
T James Hudson III (55), TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Tommy DeVito (15) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3),RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
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OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), CB TJ Moore (30)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
T Evan Neal (73)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
S Jevón Holland (8)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
S Jevón Holland (8) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Dante Miller (25)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
K Graham Gano (9)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), Brian Daboll
OLB Brian Burns (0),OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
) K Jude McAtamney (99)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
QB Russell Wilson (3),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Brian Daboll
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jameis Winston (19),RB Dante Miller (25)
WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Korie Black (25)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0),T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Quaterbacks huddle, QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Quaterbacks huddle, QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Coach Charlie Bullen
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54), LB Chris Board (49) and ILB Ty Summers (47)
S Dane Belton (24)
S Makari Paige (38)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
RB Eric Gray (20)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
WR Darius Slayton (18),WR Malik Nabers (1),OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) WR Dalen Cambre (5),WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17),WR Montrell Washington (80),WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87),K Graham Gano (9) WR Da'Quan Felton (9),WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81),WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
S Dane Belton was the defensive standout of spring.
John Schmeelk: Fiction – I will allow Citak to wax poetic about Belton, who has more takeaways and has gotten his hands on the football more than anyone else during the spring. I'll give you a couple other names that stood out to me. Cor'Dale Flott has probably made more plays on the ball than any other cornerback. Chauncey Golston has been all over the place making plays in the backfield and batting down balls at the line of scrimmage. Abdul Carter has been as explosive with his get-off and as bendy as advertised. The defense has been impressive, and I can't wait to see what they will do when the pads come on.
Dan Salomone: Fact – He plundered the most possessions for defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's turnover chest this spring. No matter how much or how little he plays, Belton just seems to find the gold.
Matt Citak: Fact – This one is easy. With no contact allowed during the spring, it would be difficult to give this honor to any of the guys up front, despite Abdul Carter showing some serious flashes during team drills. Belton had multiple interceptions throughout OTAs and minicamp, including on one of the final plays of the spring. After the ball was deflected off Art Green's helmet, Belton made a great play on the ball and got his feet down before stepping out of bounds. The fourth-year safety added the most treasure to the takeaway chest this spring, which hopefully is a sign of what is to come this fall.
WR Jalin Hyatt was the offensive standout of spring.
John Schmeelk: Fact – As much as I like to be a contrarian, I can't go with anyone other than Hyatt. He not only has a high volume of catches, but he also gotten them on a wide variety of routes. A decent percentage have also been made on big plays down the field. He has built quick chemistry with Russell Wilson and told me during our player interview series on the "Giants Huddle" podcast that he is up to 190 pounds, which is about 20 pounds heavier than he played last year. I cannot wait to see how that strength helps him when we get into training camp and regular-season situations when physical defensive backs can put their hands on him at the line of scrimmage and down the field.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – Darius Slayton deserves a shoutout here. He is the longest-tenured player on offense but looks as fresh as ever.
"I definitely think that we have a lot of new energy, period," Slayton said. "Just in the quarterback room, in the receiver room. We've had some of our young guys, UDFA guys who came in and played really good ball. So, I think that's probably part of it. Now I'm older, just kind of feeling the youth, life of youth around me."
Furthermore, it has validated his decision to re-sign with the team that drafted him in 2019.
"For sure," Slayton agreed. "Obviously, I came back, I was confident in the direction that we were going to go in and obviously once we make the acquisitions, obviously a lot of people mostly focus on the quarterback position. Once we acquire the guys we have now, that obviously just raised the confidence level. We have a chance to be a really, really good offense."
Matt Citak: Fiction – Hyatt certainly had a strong spring, as his connection with Wilson looks to be developing nicely. But I have to go with the veteran quarterback as the offensive standout of the spring. Wilson impressed me with his accuracy, power, and his overall command of the offense. He's only been in this system for a few months now and already seems to have a great understanding of it. And while we knew his famous "moon ball" passes have been a strength of his for years, it was encouraging to see him do it over and over again throughout the spring, and to different receivers. It will be great to see what he can do in the passing game once Malik Nabers returns to the field, as well.
See all the action at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center as OTAs come to a close.
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
S Jevón Holland (8) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
CB Deonte Banks (2) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
WR Montrell Washington (80) and TE Greg Dulcich (89)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Darius Slayton (18)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
Generic Team Huddle
WR Beaux Collins (8),
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87),QB Jameis Winston (19),
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Da'Quan Felton (9)
QB Jaxson Dart (6),QB Jameis Winston (19)
Brian Daboll, WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Mike Kafka
OLB Brian Burns (0)
T Evan Neal (73)
QB Jaxson Dart (6),QB Russell Wilson (3)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
S Dane Belton (24)
Charlie Bullen, OLB Brian Burns (0),OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
TE Greg Dulcich (89) and TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jameis Winston (19),RB Eric Gray (20)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
Andre Patterson
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Beaux Collins (8),TE Greg Dulcich (89)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Montrell Washington (80),WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
WR Beaux Collins (8), QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87),WR Darius Slayton (18),WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88), WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Darius Slayton (18) and QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and RB Rushawn Baker (36)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3),QB Jameis Winston (19)
T Stone Forsythe (70), WR Montrell Washington (80)
QB Russell Wilson (3), WR Montrell Washington (80)
WR Beaux Collins (8),QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) and QB Tommy DeVito (15)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Eric Gray (20)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Theo Johnson (84),RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
CB Dru Phillips (22),CB Deonte Banks (2) WR Juice Wells Jr. (2),CB Paulson Adebo (21)
ILB Darius Muasau (53) linebacker huddle
QB Tommy DeVito (15) and WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Darius Slayton (18),TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Darius Slayton (18),TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Brandon Jacobs talks to the running backs RB Devin Singletary (26), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29), RB Dante Miller (25), RB Eric Gray (20)
Brandon Jacobs
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
Brandon Jacobs
QB Jaxson Dart (6),QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
Brian Daboll
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Mike Kafka
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Tommy DeVito (15), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
Tiki Barber
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
Otis Anderson
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3),C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
Otis Anderson . QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
) QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Paulson Adebo (21), interception
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Paulson Adebo (21), Brian Daboll
S Jevón Holland (8), S Tyler Nubin (27)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Giants Alumni Howard Cross
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
RB Devin Singletary (26), WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Jevón Holland (8)
S Jevón Holland (8)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97), ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Devin Singletary (26), WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
S Dane Belton (24)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Dru Phillips (22), CB Deonte Banks (2) and CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
S Jevón Holland (8)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
S Dane Belton (24)
OLB Brian Burns (0),OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0), Jeff Burris
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
