The confidence is real.
The spring and summer meant something.
The preseason games were telling.
After passing every test — acing them, really — Jaxson Dart emerged as the backup quarterback for the Giants.
Their first unofficial depth chart of the regular season was revealed Tuesday and the quarterback pecking order reads like this:
Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston.
This is not merely names on a printout because the NFL requires teams to assemble a depth chart each week.
Dart, the 22-year old rookie, beat out Winston, entering his ninth NFL season, for the No. 2 spot.
That means coach Brian Daboll at this point in Dart’s early development has more confidence that Dart can get the job done than Winston, should anything happen to Wilson in Sunday’s season opener against the Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
The Giants traded back up into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to get Dart with the No. 25 overall pick.
At the time, the front office and coaching staff was in lockstep that there was no need or desire to rush him onto the field.
Dart was mostly given second-team reps throughout training camp — Wilson worked with the starters and Winston worked with the third-team offense — and Dart got in the preseason games ahead of Winston.
Still, the regular season is a different deal and often, a determination is made that the veteran gets the backup job and the rookie is the emergency No. 3 quarterback on game days.
That will not be the case this weekend for the Giants.
Daboll revealed nothing Monday when asked who his No. 2 quarterback will be.
“Yeah, any roster decisions based on who’s going to be in the backup or who this player is going to be, we’ll have that out there on Sunday,’’ Daboll said.
Heading into the summer, the Giants were of the mindset that Dart will sit and wait his turn behind Wilson and, presumably, Winston.
That mindset changed as Dart opened eyes throughout the building.
Daboll almost on a daily basis tested the 22-year old Dart, forcing him into unexpected or uncomfortable situations.
Dart, who certainly received work with the starters on offense, never backed down and usually found the correct answers to the questions and got the job done on the field.
There were no real surprises with the first depth chart.
Greg Van Roten is listed as the starting right guard, having fended off a mild challenge from Evan Neal, who moved to a new position after failing at right tackle.
The starting cornerback spot opposite newcomer Paulson Adebo is listed as Cor’Dale Flott or Deonte Banks, so that will be a game-day revelation.
On the defensive line, Rakeem Nunez-Roches is the starting defensive tackle, with Roy Robertson-Harris the backup.
Rookie sensation Abdul Carter is listed as the backup to starter Brian Burns at outside linebacker.
Daniel Bellinger is listed as the No. 2 tight end, behind Theo Johnson.