Jaxson Dart

ANALYSIS
While Dart isn't viewed in the upper echelon of quarterbacks -- considered to consist of Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward -- early in the draft process, he could state his case to move up on draft boards with strong showings at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. Dart is still likely to hear his name called within the first couple of rounds of the draft, but there is a long way to go before a consensus forms, likely closer to April. After joining USC as part of the 2021 class, Dart saw action in six games as a freshman with the Trojans but elected to transfer to Ole Miss prior to 2022 after USC hired a new head coach in Lincoln Riley, who brought Bears quarterback and 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams with him to Pasadena. Dart went on to complete 65.7 percent of his 1,118 pass attempts for 10,617 yards and a 72:22 TD:INT ratio over three seasons under Lane Kiffin, adding 371 rush attempts for another 1,500 yards and 12 scores. He capped off his career with his best season to date, throwing for 4,279 yards and a 29:6 TD:INT ratio in 2024. Dart concluded his senior season by leading Ole Miss to 52-20 victory over Duke in the Gator Bowl, throwing for 404 yards and four touchdowns in the contest.

ANALYSIS
In a year when the quarterback class is perceived to have a fairly steep drop-off after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, Dart has been a riser in recent weeks as the likely third-best option at the position. Investing the 21st overall pick in Dart would have been considered a fairly sizable reach just a few weeks ago, but the combination of the Ole Miss product's rising prospects and Pittsburgh's increasingly dire need at quarterback make it much less far-fetched a month before the 2025 NFL Draft.