How Jaxson Dart's presence has changed everything for NY Giants

PHOENIX - The presence of Jaxson Dart has the potential to change everything for the New York Giants . The 22-year-old quarterback won't be here at The Biltmore for the NFL Annual Meeting, just as he was not at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month. Much has been made about Dart's aura since he was drafted by the Giants, so it should come as no surprise that his impact on the franchise is felt even when he's not around.

A year ago, the Giants were in the middle of a desperate search for their franchise QB. Dart has completely altered the narrative. Last month in Indianapolis, there were reminders everywhere of the promise the Giants are embracing because of their quarterback.

A ceiling-to-floor mural behind the check-in desk of the JW Marriott - essentially the home base for the league at the Combine - featured Dart, whose image greeted virtually the entire NFL from coaches and executives during the festivities. The photo was of Dart from last year's Combine - complete with the heart-shaped necklace he borrowed from his younger sister and got so much attention for it - and his inclusion speaks volumes to where the Giants are under John Harbaugh, and where they believe they can go with this quarterback. That much was reality when Harbaugh visited East Rutherford just hours before accepting the job as the head coach of the Giants, as he wound up in a room with Dart and they spent nearly two hours talking football and life, and everything that makes football their lives.

Giants brass joked afterward that, had they not broken up the meeting, Harbaugh and Dart might still be talking. The now-coach of the Giants and his franchise quarterback hit it off exceptionally well, so much so that, when Harbaugh exited the room, he knew Dart was the guy he wanted to coach. "That's exactly the feeling I had," Harbaugh told NorthJersey.