2025 NFL Draft: NFL insider highlights Jaxson Dart rise, makes intriguing comparison to Bo Nix

Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward have long been thought of as the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class. After that, it’s a toss-up.

However, that gap may have closed a bit after scouts took a closer look at Jaxson Dart this week in Mobile, AL for the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Ole Miss quarterback has been impressive at practice, and NFL insider Ian Rapoport saw first-hand how Dart was able to boost his draft stock.

“I was in Mobile watching the practice and Jaxson Dart, the Ole Miss quarterback, seems to have had a really good couple of days,” Rapoport said. “To me, based on the people I’ve spoken with, seems right now to have maybe the inside track, I would say, to be the third quarterback taken.”

His stats in college back up Rapoport’s claim. During his three-year career with the Rebels, Dart is the all-time leading passer in Ole Miss history. threw for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first full season in 2022. It was only uphill from there. He followed that up with a 3,364-yard, 23-touchdown campaign in 2023.

Then came the best yet, as Ole Miss pushed for a playoff spot in 2024. Jaxson Dart threw for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns, against just six interceptions. He also ran for 495 yards and three scores.

It appears that those around the league believe he has tremendous upside under center at the pro level. Based on the high praise he’s received since arriving at the Senior Bowl, he’s only helped push his draft stock higher.

“If you talk to the scouts, talk to general managers, where does he fit in? They say, you know, probably somewhere in the middle of the first round,” Rapoport continued. “Okay, but we’ve seen this before. If you’re middle of the first round now, by the time we get to the draft, when it’s the quarterback-needy teams, you’re probably a little higher. We’ve seen all these guys get pushed up. This time last year, Bo Nix was being talked about as a second-rounder, and he went 12th.

“We know the quarterbacks always go much earlier. Really solid weekend in Mobile for Jaxson Dart. We’re going to get to Indianapolis before we know it you’re going to see some of the other guys who are in competition for that, the Quinn Ewers‘ and Will Howard‘s. It’s going to be intriguing how this all plays out. I for one kind of wish it was here right now.”

The 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl will be played on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET live on the NFL Network.