Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't refute Jaxson Dart potentially passing Shedeur Sanders as QB2

There has consistently been a top-two at quarterback when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft. However, that order could now be changing going into the next five weeks

In discussing his second mock draft this morning on ‘Get Up’, Mel Kiper Jr. was asked about a recent point from Dan Orlovsky that Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart could pass Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as the second quarterback taken in this draft class. He said it’s absolutely a possibility at this point in the process if some team has that opinion of Dart.

“Not out of the question,” Kiper Jr. said. “I’m not going to oversight, laugh at anything that’s being said now because everybody has got opinions all over the place.”

Per his mock this morning, Sanders and Dart are both top-ten picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Kiper Jr. had Sanders going third overall to the New York Giants while he had Dart going ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints.

That’s with the evaluation of Dart that has continued into this NFL Draft. Kiper Jr. sees a prospect that is separating himself as at least the third quarterback in this class considering how he improved in each of his three seasons in Oxford.

“Jaxson Dart, to me, when you look at where we are right now with the league and with the quarterbacks, and you’ve got to keep up with your division? Jaxson Dart has got talent. We’re not forcing him up there. He’s 18 on my Big Board right now,” Kiper Jr. said. “You look at the progression? 62%, 65%, 69% this past year. 20, 23, 29 – progression in terms of touchdowns. Had had eight rushing touchdowns two years ago, 1,500 rushing yards the last three years. That’s the underrated part of this kid’s game. He’s tough, he’s fast, he’s athletic, he’s aggressive, and he will attack a defense. He will kill you on third down, man-coverage – he can go for 20, 30 yards.”

As for the Sanders aspect of this point, Kiper Jr. and Mike Greenberg don’t see it as that big of a criticism of him. Quarterbacks can slide in drafts and still make it work in their careers at the next level, especially if they land with a better franchise because of it.

“If Shedeur does slide a little bit in the first or into the late, early second like some think? So be it,” Kiper Jr. said. “It still would still bode well for Shedeur Sanders.”

“It’s more about where you wind up than what number you get picked,” noted Greenberg in the discussion.

Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and now Jaxson Dart project as the top-three at this point when it comes to this draft’s quarterbacks. It’s just how they’ll all slot in amongst the first-round or second-round picks, especially now with this conversation between Sanders and Dart.

Kiper Jr. predicts Jaxson Dart will be a top ten pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. made a major change in his latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft. He predicted for Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart to enter the top-ten with the New Orleans Saints picking him ninth.

The group-think is Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will be the first two quarterbacks off the board but the next option after that duo is anyone’s guess. Dart’s name has been thrown out there among the options to go third. Now, evidently, Kiper Jr. does think it’ll be the former Rebel as he’s a major believer in his abilities.

“Jaxson Dart, locked into the Saints at No. 9 for me right now,” Kiper revealed via ‘Get Up’ this morning. “I think we look at Jaxson Dart, the improvement. Completion percentage up every year. Interceptions down, and he maintained that at five, six. Touchdowns up every year. Jaxson Dart with his legs — 1,500 rushing yards the last three years. Eight rushing touchdowns two years ago. That’s the underrated part of Jaxson Dart’s game.

“This is an NFC now adding Jayden (Daniels) and Caleb (Williams), Michael Penix Jr. — the division with Penix Jr. and two number ones overall, Baker (Mayfield) and Bryce Young. Now, you get Jaxson Dart. You’ve got to keep up with the division. The Saints get a new coach and a new quarterback coming in together.”