Jaxson Dart’s stock has gone from mid-round curiosity to red-hot commodity. Two NFL minds are now squaring off in a quiet but fierce tug-of-war. Brian Daboll, the QB whisperer who turned Josh Allen into a human highlight reel, is “high on” the Ole Miss product ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints’ youngest-ever HC, Kellen Moore, is reportedly “hot and heavy on Jaxson Dart,” per Schefter. New Orleans is keeping a close eye on him throughout the pre-draft process. Moore even made the trip to Dart’s pro day, signaling just how closely the Saints are tracking him. This has all the makings of a classic draft-day duel. Two sharp minds, one ascending QB, and the chessboard wide open.
What makes this battle fascinating is how Dart’s rise is scrambling the draft order beyond the top 10. On The Rich Eisen Show, Todd McShay put it plainly: “Jaxson Dart going to be available at 33, 34? Is Shedeur going to be available at 33, 34? So it’s going to be a fascinating night.” McShay went further, explaining that teams may have to leap into the 20s just to get a shot at Dart. “There’s going to be a lot of speculation and rumors, I’m sure, in the next 72 hours,” he said. “But as of right now, I can’t say firmly that this is—there’s a floor. The closest thing we have is still Pittsburgh, but that’s not a lock according to what people are saying.”
And then came the kicker: “Honestly, the conversations I’m having, there’s more talk about where do we have to go up in the 20s to get Jaxson Dart than there is about—there’s one or two teams that are buying. I think New Orleans more interested in Dart. I think maybe the coaching staff for the Giants could be more interested in Dart. And so if that’s the case, it may be more of a sweepstakes to get in that 20s range. Maybe Minnesota—only the fewest picks of any team in the NFL this year.” Dart’s late rise has sparked front-office frenzy. No one’s quite sure where his draft floor is—but his ceiling? It’s rapidly ascending.
The Giants have the luxury of holding the No. 3 overall pick, but they also control the No. 34 spot, which may prove even more pivotal depending on how the board shakes out. Connor Hughes reports that Jaxson Dart is being viewed as a “trade-up option” rather than a third overall target. That tracks—Daboll seems intrigued by the value proposition rather than burning premium capital. The Giants also added veteran Russell Wilson on a one-year, $10.5 million deal, a move that provides flexibility without boxing them into one route.
.@danorlovsky7 says Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart could be “the steal of the draft”
“He’s the guy that two or three years from now we look back and go, man, people were wrong on him.” pic.twitter.com/JmUE9stE02
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 21, 2025
There’s a strategy to their silence. Notably, “there’s not much out there right now connecting Shedeur Sanders to Giants,” according to Hughes. Well, in that case, Jaxson Dart may be their true Plan A if they go QB in Round 2. For the Saints, the path is more urgent. They hold pick No. 40, but it’s becoming clear that waiting around may be a pipe dream. Moore’s admiration for Dart feels genuine, and New Orleans is reportedly exploring trade-up scenarios to land him. If they believe he’s the right fit for Moore’s quick-read, vertical-push offense, it makes sense to go get him. Dart’s blend of arm talent, mobility, and SEC pedigree makes him a coach’s dream project—especially for a play designer like Moore.
The irony? Neither Dart nor Sanders will be in Green Bay for the draft. Jaxson Dart initially accepted an invite to attend but later bowed out, choosing instead to watch from home. Sanders, too, will be tuning in from his couch. That decision might be less about humility and more about chaos—because as of now, neither quarterback is a first-round lock, and both could slide… or surge.
As McShay said, “It’s going to be a lot of fun.” And for teams like the Giants and Saints, that fun comes with a price—one that might be paid in picks, patience, and plenty of backroom negotiations.
Everybody is “high” on Jaxson Dart
Dan Orlovsky is the latest to jump on the Dart hype train. The ESPN analyst and former NFL QB is all in on the Ole Miss signal-caller as we inch closer to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Appearing on Get Up, Orlovsky didn’t mince words about his belief in Dart’s upside. “For me, he’s the guy that 2 or 3 years from now we look back and go, man, people were wrong on him,” he said. “He’s the steal of the draft, essentially.” That’s some serious praise, especially in a class filled with flashy names.
Orlovsky even drew comparisons to one of the 2024 NFL Draft’s top rookie performers: Bo Nix. “When you watch his tape, he’s so similar to Bo Nix last year and, wow, a lot better than I anticipated,” Orlovsky added. “I think you’ve got to build crossers into his game. Ole Miss did it a ton.” He believes Dart already checks two critical QB boxes—vision and arm strength. For quarterback-needy squads like the Giants and Saints, Dart might just be worth the leap.
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