NFL Scout: Jaxson Dart 'Shouldn't Be' 1st-Round Pick in 2025 Draft, Could Be 'Close'

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart could be a beneficiary from what many perceive to be a lackluster slate of options at the position in the 2025 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler cited one scout who said they "could see [Dart] getting pushed up in the draft, maybe not in the first round but close."

"He shouldn't be a first-rounder, but it's a weak class and that's how these things go sometimes," the scout said.

Fowler also interacted with an executive from an NFC team who called it "misguided" to put Dart in the first-round conversation. The exec said the offensive scheme from Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin doesn't really prepare his quarterbacks for the NFL, so Dart might face a steep learning curve out of the gate.

The production was certainly there from the senior signal-caller. In 2024, he was third in the FBS in passing yards (4,279) while leading the country in yards per attempt (10.8) and QB rating (180.7).

Fowler's report underlined the biggest knock on Dart, though.

Bleacher Report NFL scout Dame Parson wrote in his assessment of Dart how the "Ole Miss offense provides isolated QB-friendly reads, not a pro-style system."

"As a result of Ole Miss's heavily schemed offense, processing past the first read is slower than expected for a senior quarterback," Parson said. "Dart is accustomed to favorable schemed/open routes that he struggles to quickly get through his reads and find the next open target if the initial read is covered."

Dart's experience and overall stats (10,617 yards and 72 touchdowns in three years at Ole Miss) can't be ignored. Parson has him as the third-best quarterback in the 2025 draft.

Much more important than going in the first round is landing with the right team. Dart will need a situation where his coaches are willing to be patient and he won't need to start right away.

In that sense, being a Day 2 pick might be the better outcome since it would lower the general expectations around him.