Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart has had a strong NFL Draft season, impressing scouts at the Senior Bowl. His stock has risen significantly, and he is now widely regarded as the consensus third-best quarterback in the upcoming class. While he might not start immediately, teams will see him as a long-term investment.
NFL Draft experts Matt Miller, Field Yates, and Jordan Reid of ESPN believe there is a 75% chance that Dart goes off the board in the first round with the New Orleans Saints, who are picking ninth overall, as one of his three potential landing spots.
NFL Insiders Reveal 3 Potential Landing Spots for Jaxson Dart
Dart was part of one of the most prolific offenses in college football with the Ole Miss Rebels. He threw for 4,279 yards and added 495 rushing yards, accounting for 32 total touchdowns. He also saw a significant jump in his completion percentage, improving by over 4% from his junior season to 69.3% in his final year.
Dart’s draft stock saw an uptick due to his strong performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, and Miller believes the Los Angeles Rams could be one of the teams interested in him.
“Dart’s stock has continued to rise since the Senior Bowl,” Reid wrote. “Pairing Dart with Rams coach Sean McVay and allowing him to sit and develop behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons in L.A. will be the best-case scenario for him.”
Stafford, 37, agreed to a restructured deal that keeps him in L.A. for at least one more year. The Rams didn’t give their veteran quarterback the multi-year contract he was reportedly seeking, suggesting they might be interested in drafting a young QB like Dart.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints are in similar situations. The former is likely to sign Aaron Rodgers in free agency, while Derek Carr’s injury concerns continue to be a headache for the latter.
“My mindset remains that two of the first three picks are likely to be quarterbacks, with the Titans zeroed in on Ward and the Giants still needing a young signal-caller — most likely Sanders,” Yates wrote. “Dart could start right away with a team such as the Steelers (No. 21), and the Saints (No. 9) or Rams (No. 26) might view him as an eventual starter.”
Reid agreed with the duo, writing, “I’m with Jordan and Field. I think it’s really likely Dart goes in Round One. The three teams Fields mentioned, the Steelers, the Saints, and the Rams, are all obvious fit for his services.”
With 41 starts over four years, the 21-year-old is a seasoned prospect. Dart is a smooth operator and a gritty competitor with little moxie. His dual-threat ability stretches the defense thin and keeps them honest in the RPO game, and that should help attract all of the above three teams.
PFSN’s Draft Projection For Dart
PFSN’s Reese Decker projected Dart to be picked 21st overall by the Steelers in his most recent three-round mock draft. Here’s what Decker wrote about the projection:
“The Aaron Rodgers saga continues, and if history is any indication, it may continue for some time. Regardless, if Rodgers chooses to join the Steelers, he would likely be a one-to-two-year rental, and Mason Rudolph will serve as little more than a bridge. The Steelers are actively searching for a long-term solution at quarterback, and they are deeply invested in finding one.”
After Dart, the 2025 QB class starts to get a bit murky, so don’t be surprised to hear Dart’s name called in Green Bay earlier than expected.