Tag: Jaxson Dart

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Dart is a ceiling/floor decision for teams looking to groom a quarterback.

One of the more dominant prep recruits in recent memory, quarterback Jaxson Dart went from being named the 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year out of Utah, which led him to a lone season at USC before transferring to Ole Miss.

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 223 pounds
40 time: 4.85 seconds

In the three subsequent seasons, Dart would increasingly improve and ended his Rebels career as a First-Team All-SEC honoree. He won the Gator Bowl MVP and finished with the third-most aerial yards in FBS.

Table: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (2021-24)

Year Team Class G Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Att Yds TD
2021 USC Fr 6 117 189 61.9 1,353 9 5 22 43 2
2022* Ole Miss So 13 226 362 62.4 2,974 20 11 128 614 1
2023* Ole Miss Jr 13 233 358 65.1 3,364 23 5 119 389 8
2024* Ole Miss Sr 13 276 398 69.3 4,279 29 6 124 495 3
Career 45 852 1,307 65.2 11,970 81 27 393 1,541 14

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Enough arm to make all of the throws despite not having a cannon
  • Best trait probably is playing the distribution role as a point guard
  • Puts excellent touch on intermediate passes — drops it into a bucket back-shoulder placement
  • Dual-threat functionality — looks to pass before running but isn’t going to wow you with his legs
  • Gritty, tough competitor whose moxie jumps off the screen
  • Rhythm-based passer who can go on serious hot streaks
  • Good presnap command
  • Scans the field adequately when he has time
  • Started three years in the SEC and progressed each season
  • Significant upside if multiple factors align in his favor

[lawrence-related id=500305]

Cons

  • Needs more experience playing under center — transition to NFL system might be a longer process than most
  • Can get too cute trying to make something out of nothing — more freelancing than some NFL coaches will tolerate
  • Doesn’t have a signature trait — he’s not exceptional in any regard
  • Anticipatory throws are erratic, suggesting a timing-based system could hinder his career trajectory
  • Inconsistent footwork, especially noticeable when throwing off-platform
  • Too many easy throws missed and slightly underthrown deep balls — the latter isn’t super common, but you’ll see it even on a few of his highlight-reel plays when a receiver bailed him out

Fantasy football outlook

Dart has enough athleticism and requisite intangible tools to develop into a moderate QB1 in fantasy, but it’s not happening without dedication to working on the nuances and being in the right system. He’ll benefit more than most by waiting a year to start and learning behind a veteran.

Given the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ recent courting of Aaron Rodgers while also holding the No. 21 pick in the draft, don’t be surprised to see Dart go that early. If not, he probably slides into the second round.

While he has a high ceiling, Dart also comes with elevated risk. In relation to the conventional quarterback prospect profile. It won’t be alarming if he never puts it together and is a career backup.

The battle for QB3 in the 2025 NFL Draft is heating up

The battle for QB3 in the 2025 NFL Draft is heating up between Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and others

It’s pretty well established that the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft will be Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. In which order they go and how quickly they come off the board is still up in the air, but Sanders and Ward are the consensus top two in seemingly every mock draft projection as well as quarterback big boards.

The battle for quarterback No. 3, however…

What was a fairly narrow race for QB3 behind Sanders and Ward appears blown wide open. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss, Ohio State’s Will Howard and perhaps even another interloper have all moved into consideration for the third spot on draft boards.

Milroe was the consensus leader until late in the season. Brutal outings in Alabama’s shocking loss to Oklahoma and bowl loss to Michigan hurt Milroe, and then a disastrous Senior Bowl week compounded the doubts. Milroe’s relatively poor ball placement and general inaccuracy on routine short and intermediate routes throughout the week in Mobile moved the confidence meter a lot lower on Milroe as the third quarterback.

Dart had a much more impressive Senior Bowl week, showing off a deep arm that wasn’t always evident at Ole Miss. However, questions still abound about the simplistic offense Dart operated in college and his ability to zip the ball when not given a clean pocket. He’s passed Milroe on many big boards and most of the post-Senior Bowl mock drafts, though there is still time for both to help themselves at the NFL Scouting Combine and interview circuit.

Howard wasn’t at a postseason all-star game, but that’s because he was busy leading Ohio State to the national championship. His outstanding accuracy and aggressiveness in attacking down the field kept getting better in his one season at Ohio State after four mixed-bag seasons at Kansas State. Howard earns praise for his command of a talented huddle and adapting behind a makeshift offensive line due to injuries.

It’s unlikely anyone else truly threatens to become QB3 in the 2025 NFL Draft, but prospects like Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Riley Leonard from Notre Dame will wind up being higher on some teams’ draft boards (and media big boards) than others.

Report: Saints front office execs ‘love’ their young backup quarterback

Shortly after it was reported Kellen Moore could be turned off by the Saints quarterbacks, ESPN’s Matt Miller shared the Saints front office loves Spencer Rattler:

The New Orleans Saints are in an interesting place right now. They have an aging quarterback in Derek Carr and two young quarterbacks behind him, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. You want to improve from Carr, who dealt with injuries, but the young guys went a combined 0-8.

Things get complicated when thinking about who will lead the team. Mickey Loomis has vocalized the coach won’t be married to anything including the quarterbacks. Well, all signs to the team hiring Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore.

Before Moore even has his introductory press conference, there is already a difference in view of the roster. Moore reportedly doesn’t like the Saints’ quarterback room but the New Orleans front office “loves” Rattler, per ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller.

It’s far from an insurmountable disagreement. Finding out who Rattler is with an actual offense around him is a major reason letting him start in 2025 should be on the table.

The Saints’ draft position may keep them from drafting a quarterback this year. Jaxson Dart seems primed to jump into the first round. Maybe Moore loves Dart early or another quarterback later in the draft.

Even if New Orleans does draft a young player, Rattler will most likely remain on the roster over Jake Haener. He showcased a higher ceiling and Miller’s latest report shows the Saints feel the same way. How Rattler is managed in 2025 will be an interesting storyline to follow.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

2025 NFL draft: Steelers named top fit for rising quarterback

The Steelers are called a best fit for QB Jaxson Dart.

This year’s quarterback class in the NFL draft is something of a crapshoot. There are plenty of really talented athletes who are available but none that stand out in terms of NFL readiness and polish. This makes any sort of projection for the 2025 NFL draft mostly guesswork.

One player who is making some noise and seems to be rising up draft boards is Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart. Justin Melo at The Draft Network shared his three best fits for Dart with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the first name on his list.

Here’s what he had to say about Dart with the Steelers.

The Steelers find themselves in an interesting position at quarterback this offseason. They endured a familiar season, qualifying for the playoffs before being dusted aside easily in the wild card round by their arch-rival Baltimore Ravens. Starting QB Russell Wilson is a free agent and may attract interest elsewhere, particularly from his old coach Pete Carroll and the Las Vegas Raiders. Justin Fields is also a free agent and probably won’t be back in Pittsburgh next season after being benched midseason.

Head coach Mike Tomlin may consider taking a swing at a quarterback after misjudging Kenny Pickett’s abilities a few years ago. Drafting a prospect like Dart or Jalen Milroe would give the Steelers another opportunity to find a long-term solution. The Steelers should be intrigued by Dart’s upside.

Dart is part of a group of quarterbacks in the second tier and includes Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Ohio State’s Will Howard. While we have no issue with Pittsburgh drafting any of them including Dart. It just comes down to the pick being value. In 2020 the Steelers panicked and reached for Kenny Pickett and set the franchise back at least four years. They cannot afford to do that again.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

New intel on the 2025 NFL draft stock of Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart

Want to know how a healthy sample size of NFL teams view Jaxson Dart? We’ve got you covered.

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart has been the talk of the town, and given the need for a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft for the Cleveland Browns, there has been an explosion of conversation about him.

And while some saw him as the best quarterback at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and while scouts aren’t sold on Dart, the noise is loud and hard to sift through. However, Daft on Draft took to the streets and got intel from four different scouts in four different buildings on how those teams viewed the Ole Miss quarterback.

The feedback overall was the same across the board. No team spoken to in the article had a Day 1 or Day 2 grade on Dart:

“One AFC scout told me that his grade is, ‘nowhere near the first two rounds for us.’ Another AFC scout in response to the Dart hype gave a NSFW answer to his opinion on the Ole Miss quarterback. An NFC scout expressed an early Day 3 grade on him, while another NFC scout indicated their building had an even lower grade than that on Dart.”

However, another common thing that was noted in the article was the work ethic of Dart and why that could vault him into Day 2 consideration. As it stands now, however, it’s hard to find a building with a top-100 grade on Dart.

Scouts not sold on another QB trying to be forced into the conversation

Despite the hype, it’s hard to find NFL personnel buying into Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart

In a 2025 NFL draft class where the Cleveland Browns likely need a quarterback, many are trying to force Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart into the conversation.

However, it is hard to find anyone in NFL buildings who agree with the assessment that Dart belongs in the same conversation as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward. During the Reese’s Senior Bowl, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler chatted with NFL personnel to get their take:

“An NFC executive agreed that first-round talk is misguided, noting that Lane Kiffin’s system at Ole Miss is a “mess” for incoming NFL quarterbacks and doesn’t translate. That showed early in the week, with Dart looking uncomfortable calling plays in the huddle and taking snaps under center.”

He struggled at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. After analyzing all three days of practice tape, it was evident that Dart will take quite some time to transition from the college to the NFL level after running Lane Kiffin’s juvenile offense for three years.

There was even one rep on an easy bootleg where Dart had two levels open to throw for a touchdown and instead hesitated and ran out of bounds for a loss on the play. I fact, it was Louisville’s Tyler Shough who had the best week of any of the quarterbacks.

This is a two-quarterback class.

Spencer Rattler starting in 2025 could be Kellen Moore’s best option

Kellen Moore reportedly doesn’t like the Saints’ quarterback situation. If he does take the job, Moore can take a few routes at quarterback

Kellen Moore reportedly doesn’t like the New Orleans Saints quarterback room, but there is still a chance he will take the head coach job. Moore has lucked up with the quarterbacks he has worked with in the NFL. He’s operated with Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts.

Stepping into a room with Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener can feel less than enticing. Ben DiNucci was re-signed from the practice squad and has experience in Moore’s offense from their Dallas Cowboys days, but he could be swapped out for someone else in that reserve role. If Moore takes the job, who are the other options?

Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders highlight the quarterbacks in this year’s NFL draft. The Saints won’t be able to grab them, but Jaxson Dart could be available. Opinions are split on whether he’ll be a top-10 possibility, a second-day pick in Rounds 2 or 3, or even drafted at all.

Grabbing him in the top-10 would be a reach. In a thin quarterback class, but quarterback-needy climate, Dart could rise into the tail end of the first round with a strong pre-draft circuit. If not, he’s worth consideration if Moore likes him.

Another alternative is to let Rattler start in 2025. It gives the second-year pro a chance to play with a true supporting cast, which he never had the benefit of in his rookie season.

If Rattler performs well, maybe the Saints have their quarterback. If he doesn’t, there’s a good chance the Saints are picking in the first 10 picks again. That would position you well in what is supposed to be a much better quarterback class.

The expectations are already low for the next head coach’s first season. Taking a risk on a quarterback is acceptable. Carr starting next year elevates your floor. You would have a better chance of picking around the 15th selection. Choosing to start Rattler is a boom or bust scenario, but either outcome could be beneficial.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Jaxson Dart’s fumbles at Senior Bowl practices are just part of his process

Jaxson Dart has caused a lot of buzz at Senior Bowl practice, but partly for his fumbles. That shouldn’t be a concern on his scouting report:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFYdr7PpWwK/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

When you are just beginning to learn something for the first time, there’s always going to be room for hiccups. Some of the world’s greatest athletes have all experienced a time where they are forced to adjust to something new. The early struggles during this adjustment period, shouldn’t create much panic for onlookers.

For Ole Miss quarterback and New Orleans Saints draft prospect Jaxson Dart, it’s just a part of the process.

After an impressive senior season down in Oxford, Dart has quickly followed up his rise with some exceptional days during Senior Bowl week. Dart’s play has many now wondering whether or not he should be considered as a top-ten selection in this year’s draft. As impressive as Dart’s arm has been over this past week, there have been some concerns about his ball security, specifically under center.

Dart fumbled at least three times under center to start the week. From the outside looking in, many will see this as very concerning for such an experienced player. However, when you take a deeper dive into Dart’s collegiate career, something like this should come with little surprise.

In Dart’s last two seasons at Ole Miss, he took a total of 943 snaps for the Rebels. Only nine of which were taken under center.

Going back even further, to get an idea of his exposure to under center I even checked out his high school tape. If you take a look at Dart’s high school highlight reels, you will find that he was in the gun just about 99% of the time. It doesn’t tell the entire story, but definitely gives some perspective.

In addition to his inexperience, Dart’s also receiving snaps from multiple different players and all for the very first time. Not a single center, or offensive lineman at that, on the American Team has past experience with the quarterback.

Putting all this together, it’s quite easy to see why there could be speed bumps along the way.

As a former Division 1 quarterback prospect at the FCS level, I’m able to share a similar experience with Dart in terms of the limited reps and early troubles in my first camp.

Taking a snap under center is much more than just saying “hike,” taking the ball and being on your way. In fact there are a multitude of factors that go into receiving a snap successfully.

One of the underrated aspects of taking a snap is your relationship with the center. Every center has their preference for hand placement, whether they prefer the quarterbacks hands closer to their midsection or just below their backside. This most of the time depends on whether the center likes full arm extension or just a slight bend when sending the snap. Without the proper relationship here, comes the risk for fumbles at the line.

Another that is very important is the top hand pressure of the quarterback. When the quarterback places his hands under the center, he places his throwing hand on the top and his non-throwing hand on the bottom. Before and while receiving the snap, the quarterback is to place an ample amount of pressure underneath the center’s back side allowing him to move with the center post-snap. If this doesn’t happen, when the center goes to move after the snap the quarterback could end up missing the ball. Ensuring this also indicates your readiness to the center to receive the ball as well.

The last thing here also plays a factor into ball security, and that’s thumb placement by the quarterback. There are two ways that quarterbacks will connect their thumbs under center. The first and most common way is to cross their thumbs completely creating an “X” with the two. The other way is to place the thumb of your throwing hand into the groove that connects the palm and the thumb of the opposite hand. This aspect of receiving a snap will come more as a preference for quarterbacks, with neither being more effective than the other.

From being in these same cleats as Jaxson Dart in terms of the quarterback position, there are so many factors that are at play when it comes to ball security under center. Many of which will come with time on task and finding a level of comfortability. Dart’s talent speaks for itself, throwing for 81 touchdowns and almost 12,000 yards over his collegiate career. His work ethic has also never been questioned, being characterized as “contagious” by his former teammates.

With an inspiring performance in Saturday’s Senior Bowl game, Dart will be able to be this talk to bed and hopefully push himself even further into the top-ten conversation by week’s end.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Jaxson Dart shares insight to his relationship with legendary Saints QB

Jaxson Dart knows Archie Manning well. He’d welcome the opportunity to continue following in Manning’s footsteps from Ole Miss to the Saints:

In a recent interview with WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel, 2025 draft prospect Jaxson Dart shared some insight on his relationship with legendary former New Orleans Saints and Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning. On top of that, he also shared how he would feel if the Saints call his name in April’s NFL draft.

“Yeah Archie’s been amazing, me and him have grown a very close relationship, talk to each other on a consistent basis, and he’s been a guy that I really looked up to ever since I was at Ole Miss. So just trying to follow under his wing,” Dart said after Tuesday’s practice session.

Then when asked how it would feel to follow in Manning’s footsteps and be drafted by the Saints, he responded with, “Nah I’d be blessed wherever, I’d be blessed wherever, I’m just really looking forward to the process.”

This is not the first time Manning has had some discussions with the quarterbacks of the younger generation either, as he also reached out to Spencer Rattler ahead of his NFL debut to provide him with a motivational message and say that he’s rooting for him. Whether or not Dart ends up with the Saints is yet to be seen, but playing in the Senior Bowl where the Saints have multiple positional coaches working is a start, and getting talked to by a Saints legend is an even further development.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Jaxson Dart says joining Giants would be a ‘smooth transition’

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, who has a relationship with the Manning family, says joining the New York Giants would be a “smooth transition.”

The New York Giants hold the third overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft and are in a prime position to take one of this year’s top quarterbacks.

It’s no secret the Giants are very interested in the top two recruits in this class — Miami’s Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado — but they may not have a shot at either as the two teams drafting in front of them (Tennessee and Cleveland) are also looking for a quarterback.

That could leave the Giants with few options. One possibility has emerged this week at the Senior Bowl in Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss.

Dart, who began his college career at USC but moved to Ole Miss via the transfer portal after the Trojans brought in coach Lincoln Riley and quarterback Caleb Williams, has a college resume that can’t be denied.

He also has an in with the Giants as he has been working with retired Giants quarterback Eli Manning for the past three seasons at the Manning Passing Academy.

Eli and his dad, Archie, are Ole Miss legends and have grown close to Dart, who was a First-Team All-SEC selection last year. Eli has also been working with the Giants to help find them a new franchise quarterback.

“I like Jaxson Dart,” Manning told the New York Post recently. “I’ve probably watched him more than anybody, just from watching Ole Miss games. I’ve been around him and (he’s) been a great kid, been in the same offense for three years and been successful. Seen him grow and progress and seems to be able to make all the throws.”

Dart, in turn, sees the Giants as a possible fit for him.

“My relationship first started with them when I first got there (Ole Miss),” Dart said. “They were one of the first families to reach out to me and it’s been special how our bond and connection has been able to grow throughout my time there.

“Doing different events with them and at the same time, them coming to games, shooting ‘Good luck’ texts, and going to the Manning Camp was also an amazing experience. They’ve been a huge asset to me and I look forward to continuing to build a relationship with them.”

As for the Giants? Dart says he and they are a very good match.

“It would be a smooth transition,” he added.

Whether or not the Giants choose to take Dart at No. 3 remains to be seen. Dart is shooting up the draft boards. ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. has him rated No. 3 at the quarterback position in this class and, who knows, he could rocket up into the conversation should he impress at the NFL Combine and other offseason workouts

[lawrence-related id=739672,739670,739662]