Eli 2.0? Dart could replace Wilson just like Manning replaced Warner

Over 20 years ago a then-rookie Eli Manning, an Ole Miss legend, replaced Kurt Warner as the starting quarterback of the New York Giants.

The Giants in April made Jaxson Dart the first Rebel gunslinger since Manning in 2004 selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Ole Miss has just four in its history. 

History could soon repeat itself. 

Russell Wilson, like Warner was, is penciled in with the first team. Another veteran, Jameis Winston, was signed in the off-season, too. Tommy DeVito has started games in New York. 

But Wilson was signed in the off-season as the primary bridge to whatever young quarterback the Giants came away with in the spring. Wilson signed a one-year pact worth up to $21 million.

Turns out the young gun is Dart — who’s in for the long term at four years and $17 million. New York traded back into the first round to take him at No. 25 overall. He received an $8.9 million signing bonus.

“It doesn’t change anything at all,” said Wilson said of Dart, in a transcript provided by the New York Giants. “I think the biggest thing for me is just being my best every day [and] leading. I always think about just leading everybody — every room, every moment, every time I get to step between the white lines.”

RELATED: NFL rookie camps showcase Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss draft class depth

Manning didn’t take over for Warner until November of his rookie year. 

Dart could follow a similar timeline. Wilson isn’t the same dual-threat superstar that led the Seattle Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl XLVIII. He’s 13 years in and running on fumes after flaming out in Denver and Pittsburgh. 

To be fair, the last few years don’t diminish his Hall of Fame resume. Father Time is simply undefeated and Dart is the future. 

Dart has certainly made a strong first impression. The Giants are in the midst of Organized Team Activities. Preseason camp opens in July.

“Jaxson’s been great, man,” Wilson said. “He’s a great worker, great teammate. We’re having fun, all of us. We have a really good quarterback room. Guys are so focused and working diligently every day. He’s going to be an extremely, extremely good talent and everything else throughout his career.”

Dart was a three-year starter and set records at Ole Miss. He left Oxford as the program’s all-time leader in wins (28). 

Dart threw for 4,729 yards, 29 touchdowns and an SEC-leading 329.2 yards last season. Ole Miss won 10 games for the third time in four years. His 10.8 yards per attempt and 180.7 passer rating were best in the nation. 

Dart is one of just four players in SEC history with 12,000 total career yards. He broke the single-season Ole Miss passing and total offense records (both previously held by Manning), as well as his own school records for single-bowl passing yards and total offense.

“I’m in a super special position to be able to learn from guys like Russ, (Winston) and Tommy,” Dart said as a special guest at a recent New York Yankees game. “Guys who have competed at the highest level. Russ winning a Super Bowl. 

“To kind of pick their brains each and every day has been awesome for me, especially for how young I am. My focus right now is trying to develop each and every day and do whatever I can to make the team better. I just want to win. I can’t stand losing and I’m going to do whatever I can to make that happen.”

The Giants open the 2025 season in September and with back-to-back road games at Washington and Dallas.