ESPN’s Dan Orlovksy doesn’t think Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart gets out of first round of NFL Draft

Count ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky among the believers in Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. 

So much so, Orlovsky made a bold declaration on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ on Wednesday about Dart’s prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.

“I still think Cam Ward’s going to go No. 1,” Orlovsky said. “If I was Tennessee that’d be an easy choice for me right now. No. 2 probably ends up being Shedeur Sanders somewhere. I don’t know exactly where, but I’d be surprised if he got outside that Top 10 world. 

“That third quarterback is more than likely gonna be Jaxson Dart. I don’t think Jaxson Dart gets out of the first round.”

Dart has been building early-round momentum ever since the Gator Bowl. 

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

ESPN’s Jordan Reid recently mocked Dart to the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round. Dart formerly met with the Pittsburgh Steelers, among others, at the NFL Scouting Combine. They hold the No. 21 selection.

“I watched Jaxson Dart’s tape and I go, ‘What am I missing?’ I actually DM-ed Lane Kiffin; he hasn’t gotten back to me,” Orlovsky said. “But I said, ‘What am I missing about Jaxson Dart?’ Because runner and athlete-wise he reminds me a little bit of Jalen Hurts. He makes some throws on tape you’re like, ‘This is big-time football.’ 

“Now the hesitation you have is there’s two games, one against Kentucky and one against Florida, where he makes two or three decisions where you’re like, ‘Dude, what are you doing with the football in that moment?’ I don’t love that, but those are conversations you have to have throughout the process with these guys.” 

RELATED: Jaxson Dart has never seen arm talent like Austin Simmons, his replacement as Ole Miss QB1

"I think the third Quarterback drafted is more than likely gonna be Jaxson Dart..

I don't think he's gonna get out of the first round"@danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/g7dcKRmI06

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 12, 2025

Dart a little over a week ago was mocked by NFL Network analyst Charles Davis to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall.

Eli Manning in 2004 was the Rebels’ last first-round quarterback. Manning, whose number is retired at Ole Miss, played 16 seasons with the Giants and was a two-time Super Bowl MVP.

“I’m a fan of Jaxson Dart,” Orlovsky said. “I don’t think he gets out of the first round. I texted (fellow ESPN analyst) Field Yates, I don’t think he gets to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. The Georgia game, he’s unbelievable, and he throws the ball downfield as well as any quarterback in this draft. He’s super confident in what he’s looking at.”

Dart, in the last of his three Rebel seasons, passed Manning as the all-time program passing leader.

Dart is one of just four players in SEC history with 12,000 total career yards. He broke the single-season Ole Miss passing and total offense records, both previously held by Manning. Dart reset his own school records for single-bowl passing yards and total offense as well.

The NFL Draft is set for April 24-26 on ESPN and NFL Network.

Legendary Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is hosting the festivities.

“He was out with the boys on Halloween,” McAfee said. “Everybody was mad at him and he went for like 400 yards three days later. I think the boys love him. I think Jaxson Dart is beloved by his team. Obviously he’s in a Lane Kiffin offense, so there’s a lot of explosion and everything like that. He’s been able to handle all of it. 

“Ole Miss not in the conversation during the playoffs, so everybody kind of forgot about Jaxson, I think. Cam and Shedeur also not in there, but they’re flogging the entire process. Jaxson Dart kind of disappeared from the conversation. Once people started pointing out, hey, Jaxson’s beloved by people, and then you start showing the highlights, it’s like, why not Jaxson Dart?”