{"id":219317,"date":"2025-02-25T15:30:50","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T20:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=219317"},"modified":"2025-03-06T13:32:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T18:32:23","slug":"2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-jaxson-dart-quarterback-ole-miss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/02\/25\/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-jaxson-dart-quarterback-ole-miss\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ole Miss Rebels QB Jaxson Dart"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ole Miss&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/01\/17\/2025-nfl-draft-early-jaxson-dart-scouting-report\/\" target=\"_self\">Jaxson Dart<\/a> built a strong case to warrant consideration as the third-ranked quarterback in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025-nfl-draft-profiles\/\" target=\"_self\">2025 NFL Draft<\/a> class behind Miami&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/01\/30\/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-cam-ward-miami\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Cam Ward<\/a> and Colorado&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/07\/17\/2025-nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-scouting-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Shedeur Sanders<\/a>. He faces competition for that spot on the Big Board from Alabama&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/01\/15\/2025-nfl-draft-early-jalen-milroe-scouting-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Jalen Milroe<\/a> and Texas&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/01\/21\/2025-nfl-draft-early-scouting-report-quinn-ewers-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Quinn Ewers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Did the former <a href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/player\/jaxson-dart-46099432\/high-school-248054\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">4-star USC commit<\/a> do enough during his college career to land in the first round on April 24?<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2025 NFL Draft QB Rankings: Breaking Down the Top Quarterbacks\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BKKUtDBZH3o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Jaxson Dart 2025 NFL Draft Profile<\/h2>\n<h3>Key Prospect Information<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Position:<\/strong> Quarterback<\/p>\n<p><strong>Height:<\/strong> 6&#8242; 2&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Weight:<\/strong> 225 Pounds<\/p>\n<p><strong>School:<\/strong> University of Mississippi<\/p>\n<h3>Strengths<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Throws a clean ball, especially on short and intermediate routes<\/li>\n<li>Navigates the pocket well, can escape when opponent lacks lane integrity<\/li>\n<li>Powerful legs make him an effective runner despite modest speed<\/li>\n<li>Reads defensive fronts well, particularly in RPO situations<\/li>\n<li>Delivers quickly, accurately when first read is open<\/li>\n<li>Embraced leadership role during final year with Rebels<\/li>\n<li>Development never stopped in college, bodes well for continued improvement<\/li>\n<li>Strong Senior Bowl proved he doesn&#8217;t shy away from competition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Weaknesses<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Deep ball lacks the zip you&#8217;d expect from an elite quarterback<\/li>\n<li>Too often locks on first read, must improve speed of progression<\/li>\n<li>Willingness to test tight windows could become issue against NFL defenses<\/li>\n<li>Learning to play under center could be a growth pain point<\/li>\n<li>Lazy footwork at times, including on some clean-pocket snaps<\/li>\n<li>Can hold the ball too long leading to avoidable sacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Projection:<\/strong> Late-Rising First Round Pick<\/p>\n<h3>Bottom Line on Jaxson Dart<\/h3>\n<p>Dart is one of the 2025 draft class&#8217; most intriguing prospects. He arrived to USC as a raw playmaker with ample untapped potential. Although he made steady progress across four years with the Trojans and Rebels, he&#8217;s still far from a finished product.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a look at his final college stats after one year at USC and three at Ole Miss:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Passing: 65.2 percent completion rate, 266 yards per game, 81 touchdowns, 27 interceptions<\/li>\n<li>Rushing: 1,541 yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>He ranked fourth the country in ESPN&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/college-football\/qbr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Total QBR<\/a> (84.7) during his senior season.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jaxson Dart\u2019s Advanced Analytics:<\/p>\n<p>\u279611.9 Average Depth of Target<br \/>\u27967.1% Big Time Throw Rate<br \/>\u279610.7 Yards Per Attempt<\/p>\n<p>They were ALL better than Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders<\/p>\n<p>The most impressive part? Jaxson Dart accomplished this while having LESS time to throw (2.77) than them <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ccWkMBPMGU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ccWkMBPMGU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AustinAbbottFF\/status\/1890220755075666308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Dart doesn&#8217;t project as a Day 1 starter in the NFL. The Utah native must get comfortable with the center exchange after playing almost exclusively in shotgun with the Rebels. He&#8217;ll also benefit from some low-pressure practices to acclimate to coverage speed at the next level.<\/p>\n<p>That said, the tools are there. His throws to the short and intermediate level are pro quality, and his deep ball is appealing to the eye, though it could use a little more pace. He&#8217;s also flashed scrambling ability, which is basically a necessity in the modern NFL.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/seahawks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Seattle Seahawks<\/a>, who own the No. 18 overall pick, are an ideal fit on paper.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/01\/10\/3-quarterbacks-seahawks-could-pursue-move-on-from-geno-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Geno Smith<\/a> is entering the final season of a three-year, $75 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nfl\/player\/_\/id\/12320\/geno-smith\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contract<\/a>. It features an untenable $44.5 million salary-cap hit for 2025. The Seahawks can give him a two-year extension that reduces this year&#8217;s cap hit and eases Dart&#8217;s development timetable.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps Dart is ready by late in his rookie season or maybe Seattle decides it&#8217;s best to wait until 2026, when he could have an entire training camp to work as the starter before taking over the offense. Either way, having Smith as a mentor will help the cause.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jaxson Dart has LEGIT arm talent.<\/p>\n<p>Velocity, touch, arm angles, and arm strength are all there. <\/p>\n<p>I won\u2019t say much more than that\u2026 for now. <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ppC9aKF7gk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/ppC9aKF7gk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL_DF\/status\/1890789578539155691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">February 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Regardless, whether it&#8217;s the Seahawks or another organization, a little of patience will be necessary if the Ole Miss product is going to work over the long haul.<\/p>\n<p>Dart may never become an MVP-caliber quarterback. It wouldn&#8217;t be a surprise to see him eventually earn a few Pro Bowl selections as part of a successful NFL career, though.<\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo; Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jaxson Dart is making a late surge up the Big Board as the 2025 NFL draft approaches. Will the Ole Miss quarterback go in the 1st Round?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5175,"featured_media":219387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1647],"tags":[32605,33129,33110,27083],"class_list":["post-219317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-draft","tag-2025-nfl-draft","tag-jaxson-dart","tag-ole-miss-football","tag-scouting-report"],"modified_by":"David Latham, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5175"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=219317"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":221030,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219317\/revisions\/221030"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/219387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=219317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=219317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=219317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}