With the 2025 NFL Draft just around the corner, quarterback buzz is increasing — and not always in a good way. One name climbing mock draft boards is Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart, currently ranked QB4 by PFSN. On paper, his résumé pops: 95 career touchdowns, SEC battle-tested, and big-game flashes. But not everyone’s buying into the hype.
Deshaun Watson’s QB Coach Questions Jaxson Dart as First-Round NFL Draft Talent
Quincy Avery, a well-known private QB coach with a stacked client list that includes Deshaun Watson, isn’t just skeptical — he’s stunned. Avery took to X with a blunt take that got NFL X talking and debating whether teams are reaching in a down year for signal-callers.
Really wild to me there are people talking him in 1st round. Like are we that QB desperate? He's got one of the best play designers in CFB getting guys open left and right and the few times he has to go through a progression it looks very difficult. https://t.co/uNMVePXaIb
— Quincy Avery (@QuincyAvery) April 7, 2025
“Really wild to me there are people talking him in 1st round,” Avery posted. “Like are we that QB desperate?”
That desperation might be real. This class isn’t exactly loaded with elite QB talent. Many analysts and scouts consider the 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class as one of the weaker classes in recent memory, with a lack of consensus top-tier talent. Dart’s upside is obvious, but Avery isn’t sold on the substance beneath the stats.
“He’s got one of the best play designers in CFB getting guys open left and right,” Avery continued, “and the few times he has to go through a progression it looks very difficult.”
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. handles play-calling, with head coach Lane Kiffin interjecting when necessary, which begs the question: How much of Dart’s success was scheme vs. skill? In the pros, clean windows vanish, and the quarterback must be able to read the defense. Avery’s comments highlighted the college-to-NFL transition — can Dart process fast enough when it’s not scripted?
With teams QB hunting in a lean year, the real question might not be whether Dart is a first-round talent — but whether the league is just that desperate.
Late Surge, Real Questions: Dart’s Rise Has Scouts Intrigued — But Not All In
Dart’s draft stock has risen due to his strong Gator Bowl performance, his mobility and ability to extend plays, and his consistent improvement over the last three seasons. These traits showcase a player with talent and a commitment to development. Dart has shown maturity and leadership on and off the field, catching the attention of scouts and analysts. His performance at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine further solidified his status as a top prospect.
Apart from not participating in the 40-yard dash, Dart did enough at the NFL Combine to make a case for himself. NFL Nex Gen Stats Draft Model — a system that analyzes NFL Combine, pro day, and college production data to predict a prospect’s chances of success in the NFL – compiled a 6.17 prospect grade for Dart. The grade translates to the Ole Miss QB projected as a backup who could eventually develop into a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL.
With Shedeur Sanders’ 2025 NFL Draft stock falling, NFL experts debate whether Dart should be ranked higher. Dart wasn’t even considered a first-round pick during the regular season, but he saw his stock rise after his performance against Duke in the Gator Bowl. He led his team to a 52-20 win over the Blue Devils with a dominant 404-yard, four-touchdown performance.
Like most quarterbacks in this draft class, there are a lot of questions to risk taking a first-round gamble on Dart.