NFL Rumors: Jaxson Dart Concerns Revealed; Some Teams Don't Have 'Sure-Fire' R1 Grade

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart "has first-round buzz" in the eyes of some NFL teams, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"They don't necessarily think that he is a surefire first-round talent based on their grades, but they could certainly talk themselves into it," Fowler said Sunday on SportsCenter. "He's got a big skill set. He can make the throws. He's a big, sturdy guy. Some of the concerns teams have are with late in games and big games he struggled at times, particularly that Florida game where he had multiple turnovers late. So, there's some concerns there."

The NFL insider went on to say the New Orleans Saints have "certainly done their homework at quarterback." To that end, they might take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders if he slipped all the way to No. 9, or they could even gamble on Dart despite the question marks if Sanders is gone.

The Rebels signal-caller put up big numbers in 2024. He threw for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns to six interceptions, and his 180.7 passer rating was the highest in the FBS.

Dart has plenty of skeptics, though. He's the No. 58 overall player and fourth-best quarterback on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board, with B/R NFL scout Dame Parson comparing him to Carson Wentz.

In February, Fowler interviewed one scout who said Dart "shouldn't be a first-rounder." An executive from an NFC team also said the offensive scheme head coach Lane Kiffin utilizes at Ole Miss can make it tough for his QBs to adjust to the pros.

This was a concern Parson highlighted in his scouting report, too.

"As a result of Ole Miss's heavily schemed offense, processing past the first read is slower than expected for a senior quarterback," he wrote. "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 does not anticipate throwing lanes well at this stage of his career. He is a see-it, throw-it style passer. Instead of anticipating the receiver's breaks and throwing before completion, he waits for the target to separate and work themselves open. This leads to holding onto the football and inviting pressure."

Last year, few people had Bo Nix going as high as the 12th pick to the Denver Broncos. Without a clear-cut choice as the third-best quarterback behind Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward, Dart could be the QB who leaps well ahead of the projections on draft day.