In my opinion, Jaxson Dart is one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects entering the draft. Despite not receiving national attention until his senior year of high school, he emerged as a 4-star recruit and was ranked among the top 100 players nationally. Dart committed to USC, where he started three games during his freshman year in relief of Kedon Slovis, throwing for 1,353 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in that limited playing time.
The following year, USC hired a new head coach, Lincoln Riley, who initiated a roster overhaul by bringing in his former quarterback from Oklahoma, Caleb Williams. This development complicated Dart’s path to playing time, leading him to transfer to Ole Miss, where he took over for Matt Corral. In his first season with the Rebels, Dart experienced a mix of highs and lows, guiding the team to a 7-5 record while completing 62.4% of his passes for 2,964 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
In 2023, Dart took a significant leap, completing 65.1% of his attempts for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He also contributed on the ground with 389 yards and eight additional touchdowns, leading Ole Miss to an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State, earning honorable mention All-SEC recognition from College Football Network. Despite having the option to declare for the draft after the 2023 season, Dart chose to wait another year, believing the 2024 quarterback class wouldn’t be as competitive as the one in 2023.
Jaxson Dart excels in the Ole Miss offense under Lane Kiffin, particularly with RPOs and downfield accuracy. He has a strong arm and can effectively throw between layers of the defense. However, when pressured, he tends to play it safe, missing downfield opportunities and often rolling to his right.
Mechanically, Dart needs improvement, as he sometimes throws from awkward angles, leading to inaccuracies, especially on shorter passes. Despite this, he shows good running ability and instincts on RPOs, making him effective in the red zone. He balances toughness with smart decision-making in his play.
PLAYER INFO
Name: Jaxson Dart
Jersey: 2
Postion: QB
School: Ole Miss
Class: Senior
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225
Jaxson Dart’s STRENGTHS
Jaxson Dart possesses a wealth of talent, demonstrated by his impressive velocity on intermediate and deep throws. Dart effectively makes pre-snap reads and has the physical traits to stand tall under pressure in the pocket. He has solid anticipation and the ability to scramble, keeping his eyes downfield while extending plays. When on the move, Dart showcases his arm flexibility with varied throwing angles and release points, enhancing his effectiveness as a dual-threat quarterback.
Lane Kiffin’s offense is centered around the RPO and play-action game, which is a perfect fit for Dart. He excels with ball fakes and possesses the ability to keep the ball and run effectively, making him a significant threat on the ground as well.
Jaxson Dart’s WEAKNESSES
While Dart possesses a lot of talent, there are areas he needs to improve. His footwork, particularly when dropping back in the pocket, can be poor, leading to inaccurate throws. Dart can be known for abandoning his initial read too quickly, leading to forced throws and poor decision-making under duress. Additionally, his tendency to hunt for big plays can result in him neglecting available checkdowns.
Although Dart excels in Lane Kiffin’s RPO offense, it also exposes some of his weaknesses. The RPO system typically lacks multi-step progressions, which can limit his ability to fully develop his decision-making skills. It also highlights Dart’s inability to consistently throw between the hashes, leading to forced throws. While Dart is a great dual-threat quarterback in this offense, he needs to do a better job of avoiding big hits. Finally, Dart has not yet performed up to his standard when facing elite competition, which raises concerns for NFL teams evaluating him.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Entering the 2024 season, Dart was considered by some to have first-round potential. However, his draft stock has since fallen. I do not believe Dart is ready to start for an NFL team immediately, as the college offense he runs may not translate effectively to the professional level. Nonetheless, I see Dart as a very talented quarterback with significant potential in the NFL, especially at still only being 21 years old. Currently, I have him graded as a Day 3 prospect.
I believe that either a team with a franchise QB in need of a backup, or a team with uncertainty at the quarterback position who may see him as a developmental project, will be interested in taking a chance on him on day 3. Some of those teams interested may include:
- Cleveland Browns: (Is it fair to say the Deshaun Watson experiment in Cleveland is officially over? After 19 games, Watson hasn’t topped 300 passing yards even once, while quarterbacks like Jameis Winston and Joe Flacco managed to do so in six out of seven games combined. It may be time for the Browns to start looking for another quarterback. Although they finally have a first-round pick, it’s unlikely they’ll prioritize a QB early due to other pressing needs. Targeting a player like Jaxson Dart on Day 3 could be a smart move, allowing him to learn behind an experienced quarterback, potentially someone like Winston. This could create an ideal situation for Dart’s development.)
- New York Giants: (Even with two years remaining on Daniel Jones’s contract, the New York Giants could move on from him after this season for a cost of just $22.21 million. Jones hasn’t had the bounce-back season that both he and the Giants hoped for. After drafting standout wide receiver Malik Nabers last year, it seems likely that the Giants will look to draft a quarterback at some point this year. If they aren’t enamored with any of the top prospects at their first pick, they might wait to target Jaxson Dart, bringing in competition for the starting role next season—even potentially competing with Jones himself.)
- Dallas Cowboys: (With Dak Prescott signing a record-breaking deal this year, the Cowboys face the looming free agency of their two backup quarterbacks. After trading a fourth-round pick for Trey Lance, the former third overall pick from the 2021 draft, the team has not seen the development they anticipated; he hasn’t even secured the backup job over Cooper Rush. Rather than re-signing either player, the Cowboys could explore a different route by targeting a younger quarterback in the draft. Given their willingness to trade a mid-round pick for Lance, it’s likely they’ll seek out a backup with greater potential and promise.)
I believe any team that drafts Jaxson Dart on Day 3 will be thrilled to secure a player of his caliber. While I see him as a project, he has the potential to thrive in the right situation—especially in an offense that aligns with his strengths. With time and a team committed to developing the skills he already possesses, along with his natural leadership qualities, Dart can set himself up for success. Whether as a reliable backup or even a franchise quarterback, he could become a valuable asset for whichever team selects him.
