Jaxson Dart rumors heat up as NY Jets continue their search for a QB

The 2025 NFL Draft is still more than a month and a half away, but with the NFL Combine now in the rearview mirror, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of where the top prospects in this year’s class are projected to land. One potential NY Jets target whose stock has skyrocketed in recent weeks is Jaxson Dart.

The Ole Miss quarterback began the calendar year as a projected Day 2 pick who was seen as a logical dart throw (no pun intended) for teams at some point after the first round. His stock is reaching all-time levels after the Combine, however.

Some mock drafts have Dart going as high as the top three picks, with many now projecting him to be selected ahead of Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. In a recent mock draft, Mike Sando of The Athletic had Dart landing with the Jets at No. 7 overall.

Sando referenced former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum — who helped spearhead the team's search for a new head coach and general manager this offseason — stating that Dart is the clear third-best QB in the draft. Others believe he has a real chance to be a top-10 pick.

In fact, Sando suggested the Jets could even target a different quarterback. The consensus was, however, that a quarterback would be the pick.

"Not everyone agrees with Tannenbaum’s contention that Dart should be the third quarterback in this class, but all agree the Jets appear desperate heading into free agency, with few appealing options. So we’ve penciled in a quarterback here, leaving open the chance it could be someone other than Dart."

Mike Sando

Could the NY Jets draft Jaxson Dart seventh overall?

A three-year starter at Ole Miss, Dart saw his production improve each year as the Rebels' quarterback, finishing his senior season with 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 13 starts.

Dart led his team to a 10-3 record and a victory over Duke in the Gator Bowl, earning first-team All-SEC honors in the process. While not as physically gifted as Miami's Cam Ward, there's a lot to like about Dart as a quarterback prospect.

He's a natural athlete, has good-enough NFL-caliber arm talent, and exhibits outstanding toughness in the pocket, showing a willingness to stand tall and deliver strikes while taking hits. He plays similarly to Baker Mayfield, albeit with less of an arm.

Dart's issues stem from the simplistic offense he ran at Ole Miss and his struggles under pressure. His turnover-worthy play rate when pressured is nearly double that when throwing from a clear pocket. That's a major red flag for a quarterback like Dart, who lacks elite traits.

In a weak quarterback class, Dart has just enough positive traits to climb draft boards and likely be selected earlier than expected. However, the Jets should not be the team to take that swing, especially not with the seventh overall pick.

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