Jaxson Dart to the New Orleans Saints ‘just makes sense’ to NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay

Jaxson Dart announced at Ole Miss Pro Day last month he’s attending the 2025 NFL Draft. 

His wait to be selected could be pretty short, if the latest mock from long-time draft analyst Todd McShay is any indication. 

McShay released his NFL Mock Draft 3.0 earlier this week and had the New Orleans Saints taking Dart, the record-setting Rebel, over Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

“I’ve got Jaxson Dart just slightly ahead of Shedeur,” McShay told the NFL Network. “I think it’s more of just the physical traits and what he can be. And I think it’s more appealing to a multitude of NFL teams.

“For Shedeur to have success, it’s got to be with a precision-based offensive attack. I just look at it from a football perspective. When you sit down and start looking at what can happen draft night, when I talk to people in the league, I’m not getting any sense Shedeur’s going two or three to Cleveland or the Giants. I also feel pretty strongly he’s not going to go to the Jets at seven. 

“It’s unlikely he goes to the Raiders at six. You look at the Top 10 and say, OK, the Saints. That’s the landing spot. QB2 could be the Saints. I look at the history with Kellen Moore.”

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Dart met one-on-one with Moore and the Saints after Ole Miss Pro Day.

He had a Top 30 visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers and met with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.

New Orleans holds pick No. 9, but the Saints then come back around with the eighth pick in the second round. Cam Ward (Miami) is widely considered the draft’s top quarterback and likely pick of the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 overall.

Ole Miss had just three players drafted last year. The Rebels expect double digits in 2025. The draft runs April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“Kellen Moore’s been an offensive coordinator in the league in three places: Dallas, L.A. Chargers and Philly,” McShay said. “Dak (Prescott), (Justin) Herbert and (Jalen) Hurts. In what world is he drafting Shedeur Sanders over Jaxson Dart?

“He is used to a bigger, mobile, stronger-armed quarterback. Those are three qualities Jaxson Dart has. Jaxson Dart is not the processor that Shedeur is; may develop into it. Hasn’t been asked to. A lot of pre-determines at Ole Miss. 

“But I think his instincts are pretty awesome. He’s climbing, he’s sliding (and) he’s not retreating. He’s not bailing. I think Kellen Moore sees a lot of Dak. You think about him at the top of his drop, climbing the pocket, and then kind of moving outside Jalen Hurts, same stuff

“(New Orleans) just makes sense.”

Dart made history as a three-year starter for Ole Miss at quarterback. 

He broke the single-season Ole Miss passing and total offense records last season, both previously held by another all-time great, Eli Manning. 

Dart reset his own school records for single-bowl passing yards and total offense as well. Dart is one of just four players in SEC history with 12,000 total career yards.

Mel Kiper of ESPN has Dart as the draft’s No. 3 quarterback. One NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando Dart could be an option for the New York Jets with the No. 7 pick.

“I would say an organization-changer,” Dart said, when asked at Pro Day what type of player an NFL team will be getting. “Somebody who legitimately sets the tempo of how things are supposed to be done. Each and every day someone who’s consistent. Someone who’s the ultimate competitor and will do whatever it takes to win.”