Draft Profile: Jaxson Dart
Quarterback, Ole Miss
6’2, 225 lbs.
Projected: Round 2-3*
If you’re a Steelers fan, then you may be aware that we currently do not have a quarterback. Well, we have one- Skylar Thompson is under contract. So that means essentially no quarterback. According to X the Steelers have shown interest in Matt Stafford. No wait, Aaron Rodgers. Daniel Jones. They are in discussions for Trevor Lawrence. But it’s definitely between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields although they prefer Wilson. Or Fields. They prefer Fields. You heard it here 8th.
Whatever ultimately happens, a lot of fans feel that there isn’t anyone in free agency that is “our guy.” This includes both Fields and Wilson. There are a lot of draft analysts that feel that this is the weakest QB class since 2022. Which was also the last time the Steelers drafted a quarterback in round one. He’s on the Eagles now. They have effectively painted themselves into a corner.
There are currently two quarterbacks that are considered first round prospects. Those are Cam Ward from Miami, and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. Of course, the Steelers finished above .500 again and lost in the first round of the playoffs, so they shouldn’t have a shot at either of those two. One other intriguing prospect that is rising up draft boards is none other than Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss.
Strengths:
Jaxson Dart set school records for not only passing yards (over Eli Manning), but for total offense as well. Dart is a leader; he’s feisty, tough, and will play through pain. Teammates love him and he commands the huddle. He will willingly take a big shot to make a play down field. His short to intermediate passing is very crisp and hands down was the best quarterback to throw at the combine. Dart has a solid build and can run well. He will improvise when plays break down and either scramble to buy time to throw or tuck it and go. He has above average athleticism for the position.
Weaknesses:
There are questions about Dart’s ability to run an NFL style offense and whether he was a product of the system at Ole Miss. This stems from a production drop off against some of the better defenses in college. While he has a good arm, he does not have a cannon and needs to improve his anticipation of throws because of this. He will sometimes hesitate and then try to strong-arm a throw which will not hold up in the NFL with his arm strength. Deep ball accuracy seems to be lacking, and receivers need to come back to balls at times instead of making catches in stride. Dart will sometimes leave a clean pocket early resulting in missed opportunities.
How he fits:
Steelers fans will appreciate Jaxson Dart’s toughness. He’s a gritty player in a world of NFL quarterbacks begging for calls every time they get touched. He’s more athletic than he gets credit for and having a sturdy build will help him in the run game. His leadership skills would be a welcome addition to the locker room. Dart would be worth taking a shot on for the Steelers if he were to fall to the third round.
Player Comp:
Jaxson Dart reminds me a lot of Bo Nix coming into last year’s draft. Both quarterbacks have more athleticism than you think. Bo Nix was drafted a lot higher than was originally expected, and Dart has the potential to have the same thing happen for him this year. He was initially considered a third to fourth round prospect but is now gaining steam and there are talks of him being selected in the first round. Hence the reason I used an asterisk after his projected round.
Quarterback is historically a very difficult position to scout and draft. A lot of times consensus “first round talents” do not pan out. However, it is also the position that teams are almost always willing to reach for if they need one. Coming from Ole Miss, Jaxson Dart is even harder to figure out. As an example, Matt Coral was in first round discussions at one point due to the system he played in. You have to love Dart’s toughness and moxie though. When all is said and done, I think that some team will be willing to spend a much higher pick than the Steelers are willing to. So, for Steeler fans it looks like the search continues for our guy.
