The NFL draft is set for April 24-26, featuring a quarterback class led by Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, who could be the first and second overall picks. However, many analysts believe this year’s quarterback talent is lacking; for instance, ESPN’s Matt Miller gave zero quarterbacks in the class a first-round grade.
On the other hand, draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. holds a more favorable view of some quarterbacks. He notably raised Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart to 18th in his rankings after having him previously unranked, stating, “Dart can throw accurate strikes to every level, and he posted some big numbers in Ole Miss’ run-pass option-based offense this past season,” Kiper wrote. “I saw a few really amazing throws across his body when rolling to his left on the tape too. Additionally, Dart can destroy opponent defenses with his legs, rushing for 655 yards this past season.”
Following these evaluations, Dart is now ranked as the third quarterback in Kiper’s lineup, trailing only Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (No. 5) and Miami’s Cam Ward (No. 6). He comes off an impressive season, having completed 276-of-398 passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 180.7 passing efficiency rating. It’ll be interesting to see where Dart ends up.
