Jaxson Dart is rising how high in the 2025 NFL Draft? ESPN's Mel Kiper isn't holding back anymore

Jaxson Dart is finally getting the recognition he deserves as an elite college football quarterback. It seems that it took a 400-yard, four touchdown performance in a standalone bowl game against a Top 15 defense for the 2025 NFL Draft community to finally come around, but better late than never.It apparently wasn't enough that Dart […]

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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Jaxson Dart, QB Ole Miss
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Jaxson Dart is finally getting the recognition he deserves as an elite college football quarterback. It seems that it took a 400-yard, four touchdown performance in a standalone bowl game against a Top 15 defense for the 2025 NFL Draft community to finally come around, but better late than never.

It apparently wasn't enough that Dart finished the regular season ranked first in total yards per game, first in yards per play, first in adjusted yards per pass attempt, second in passer rating, and top five in just about everything else. Now, his obvious greatness is a secret no more.

Sources from multiple NFL franchises have shared with A to Z Sports that they now have Jaxson Dart ranked as their QB2 in the class. And national NFL Draft analysts like ESPN's Mel Kiper are beginning to project him as a first round pick.

In fact, Mel Kiper joined Field Yates for their ESPN First Draft podcast on Thursday and shared exactly how high he believes Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart could go in the 2025 NFL Draft:

The other quarterback I just want to throw into this discussion [at pick six to the Raiders]. We've thrown all these other guys out there. I think a guy who's going to be one of the more underrated guys–he had a heck of a bowl game–I'm going Jaxson Dart. Jaxson Dart. I watched him. I went back and studied him this week. I've waited and waited. He's my QB3. He's solidly QB3. I'm looking at what he's lacking. He's a great athlete. He can run. He can beat you with his legs. He can make every throw. He makes "wow" throws, rolling left, rolling right. His accuracy, he was around 69% or 70% this year…Bottom line is, Jaxson Dart, I think he has the talent level, the mindset, everything, to be a heck of a quarterback."

This shouldn't be a controversial take at all. Mel Kiper's tone on the show sounded as though he was speaking with apprehension, but the numbers don't lie. And neither does the tape. Dart has been making QB1 kind of throws all year long.

As of this writing only Cam Ward (Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) are considered consensus first round quarterback prospects based on the most recent large sample mock draft data. However, based on the latest intel from NFL teams and national names ESPN like Mel Kiper that might change here soon.

The majority of the teams A to Z Sports spoke with on Jaxson Dart aren't ones who will be a selecting a quarterback this cycle, but all it takes is one of the teams who is (Giants, Raiders, Jets, and more) to take a shot on him early. If the 2025 NFL Draft process goes well for Dart at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine he might continue to rise up the ranks.

There are reports that Jaxson Dart may be pursuing a special waiver with NCAA to return to Ole Miss for 2025, which would be great for Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss fans. However, that could be a long shot considering how quickly that decision will need to be made. And if Dart continues to hear from NFL teams and analysts that his stock is soaring, he might just want to enter this year's draft anyway.

Either way, we'll continue gathering information on Jaxson Dart's situation in the coming days and weeks here at A to Z Sports to see where his special talent lands.

We'll be back with more Ole Miss Rebels coverage here at A to Z Sports here soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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