Updated: Mar 22
Coming into the 2025 NFL draft, everyone's eyes are on two star quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, as the two of the biggest prospects in this year's draft. With a rather weak quarterback class in this year's draft, and Ward and Sanders so far ahead of everybody else, the next best QB is up for debate, but here’s why Jaxson Dart is the next best option.
The Ole Miss quarterback has been heavily underestimated and underranked in the last few weeks, but I believe Dart could be a hidden gem for those who are willing to make a no risk quarterback selection. A number of analysts and reporters have ranked Dart in the fourth and fifth rounds, with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe seeming to be the best option. Dart, who led the Rebels to a 10-3 record in the 2024 season, ended the season with a strong performance against Duke throwing for 404 yards and four touchdowns with a 77% completion rate, putting him just over the 4,000 yard mark for this season, and 29 touchdowns.
Milroe on the other hand, who has been consistently ranked a second round or potentially a late first round selection, threw for just over 2,800 yards, and threw for 16 touchdowns, in Alabama’s disappointing 9-4 season. Despite the stats favouring Dart, both teams compete in the SEC, a division with not so many good college teams. With both having decent stats to show for their college seasons, it has to be kept in mind that the quality in teams both favour them, and the wins may often have come easier. Although, even though Dart and Milroe may have played some uneven opponents, it still has to be kept in mind that Dart has had an exceptional season compared to Milroe, and also has some NFL level qualities that Milroe may lack. For example, Dart who threw for over 4,000 passing yards on the year, has a very big arm, and can execute very deep drives at all angles, compared to Milroe, who despite being able to convert deep plays, tends to prefer to take a short route, touch pass plays. With both having excellent passing characteristics for the NFL, Dart may attract other teams due to his ability to sling the ball, and his ability to find the passes in deep coverage.
Similarly by watching both QB’s, both have a very good ability to stretch the plays downfield. With both being a good size, and extremely athletic, their ability to run the ball, and covert downfield will definitely attract NFL scouts, perhaps Milroe more than Dart as he has an unbelievable ability to navigate a tight pocket, but for a man of Dart’s size, he will 100% still be useful for NFL scouts with his dual threat ability. Although, one thing that was pointed out during a number of games this season was both player’s struggles in the pocket when under pressure. Milroe often tended to be too eager to take off with the ball when under pressure in the pocket, similar to Dart, he often lacks accuracy and poise when under pressure, and can tend to have a slower reaction time when he is in a tight pocket.
Despite both having lots of positives and negatives to their game, I personally believe Dart has more to offer to an NFL head coach. From watching the two, I think Milroe will be seen as another ‘Lamar Jackson wannabe’ and will hinder the scouts' idea of him as a player due to his nature of being too much of a one sided hybrid quarterback. I've seen from time to time that Milroe also can struggle with reading defenses off the snap, and doesn't anticipate open routes to well, and will often resort to a rush. Dart also can often have some trouble with reading blitzes and coverage, but has much more confidence in trusting his arm and receiver in catching a pass down the stretch. Personally, I believe Dart just has more than Milroe as a quarterback. It's no doubt Milroe has had a great season and will have a great chance at being an NFL quarterback, but Dart for me has an even better chance. But the question is where.
Now here’s where I think Dart could end up. The New York Giants. The Giants have the third pick in this year's draft, but I certainly don't believe they should choose Dart that early, but use their late round draft capital to trade up and secure him. I believe the Giants should take Heiseman winner Travis Hunter at the number three spot, and use maybe a third round pick to trade up to the mid or high second round to pick up dart. Despite thinking Dart is the better option, I do think Milroe will go off the board earlier, and maybe even in the first round, but if the giants could use their draft capital correctly and get the right trade, picking up Dart and Hunter would be a massive draft win for the Giants, and could see themselves pick up a new franchise quarterback.
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