Jaxson Dart has seen his stock rise in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, and one reporter believes the former Ole Miss star is a lock to hear his name called in the first round on Thursday night.
Dart is viewed by most analysts as the second- or third-best quarterback in the 2025 draft behind Cam Ward and/or Shedeur Sanders. Ward is a virtual lock to be taken first overall by the Tennessee Titans, but there is almost no consensus regarding what will happen after that.
According to Aditi Kinkhabwala of CBS Sports, Dart has a strong chance of being a top-10 pick. Kinkhabwala said on Thursday that she was told Dart’s floor is pick No. 9, when the New Orleans Saints will be on the clock.
“What I’m being told is that Jaxson Dart is not going to fall beyond that No. 9 pick and the Saints,” Kinkhabwala said. “Somebody could potentially go above the Saints to try to go get him, but that’s not what I’m hearing right now. That is a pick that Kellen Moore really likes.”
"What I'm being told is that Jaxson Dart is not going to fall beyond that No. 9 pick and the Saints."@AKinkhabwala with the latest buzz from the NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/r4OR2xzNMD
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 24, 2025
If that were to happen, there is a very good chance Dart would be taken ahead of Sanders — and perhaps well ahead.
Derek Carr has a shoulder injury that has called into question his availability for the 2025 season. New Orleans has been linked to Sanders, Dart and one other top quarterback prospect in the wake of that news. There is a growing belief that new Saints head coach Kellen Moore will want to be aggressive in finding his quarterback of the future.
Dart led the SEC in 2024 with 4,279 passing yards. He also threw 29 touchdown passes to go with six interceptions for an Ole Miss team that went 10-3 on the season.
Dart was viewed as a likely second-round pick at best following the college season, but his arrow has been pointing up since. He has to like hearing that there are potentially multiple teams with interest in drafting him in the top 10.
