Ever since the combine, Jaxson Dart’s been on a serious climb. A complete draft stock surge—this Ole Miss record-breaker went from dark horse to legit contender, even jumping ahead of Quinn Ewers in some post-combine mock drafts. And get this: with Shedeur Sanders’ stock dipping, while Dart’s keeps soaring, Dart’s even creeping up to QB3 on the ‘Grinding the Mocks’ graph. But wait, there’s more! Some oddsmakers are throwing a curveball, putting both Dart and Shedeur at QB2 with +1800 odds, just behind Cam Ward. Now, instead of just coasting on that buzz, Dart went out and seemingly amped it up at his Ole Miss Pro Day this Friday.
Dart had big-wigs from all 32 NFL teams and three head honchos—Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys), Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns), and Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints)—all checking him out in Mississippi. And let’s be real, it sounds like those picture-perfect throws and drills practically stamped the 21-YO’s ticket to a significant spot in the upcoming draft.
Dart reportedly threw around 70 passes. He worked with an amped-up wide receiver group from last season, featuring Tre Harris, a likely top-two-round pick. Cayden Lee, the only receiver non-eligible for the draft, also caught passes from him. Dart looked comfortable and reportedly dazzled the coaches with impressive arm talent and accuracy throughout the showcase. While the QB hasn’t been in the conversation for a top-three first-round pick, his increasing momentum is rapidly changing the narrative.
Stefanski, who orchestrates the Cleveland offense, wasn’t likely in Oxford for a casual visit. Showing up to scout a guy favored to go as high as No. 2 suggests the Browns might genuinely be planning something significant.
One of the more interesting attendees to Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart’s Pro Day today in Oxford: Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. So while owner Jimmy Haslam and GM Andrew Berry were at Penn State getting to know Abdul Carter, Stefanski got some QB recon work done.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 28, 2025
The Browns are clearly pulling out all the stops to fix their never-ending QB puzzle, a situation that’s arguably been cranked up to eleven by that massive, fully guaranteed 5-year, $230 million deal they handed to Deshaun Watson.
Kenny Pickett would likely be their immediate starter, but the Browns appear keen to add at least one standout QB from the college ranks to their roster. Dart looks like a feasible option, perhaps as a No. 2 or after a significant draft trade. NFL Draft writer John Frascella even wrote, “Browns plan is becoming very clear now: Abdul Carter at 2, then trade up from pick 33 to get Jaxson Dart… Andrew Berry gonna leave this draft with Carter and Dart.” So, what can they expect to get? Well, the Rebels QB offered a glimpse of that himself.
Jaxson Dart seems poised in his momentum amidst the draft buzz
Dart isn’t just aimlessly chasing teams. He’s focused on his physical and mental growth before making the big leap to the pros. He genuinely doesn’t seem to care which team drafts him, because he sees the bigger picture and has plans for the overall improvement of the game. A true sportsman’s spirit shone through in his post-pro day interview.
“I would say an organization-changer,” Dart stated when asked what he brings to an NFL team. “Somebody who legitimately sets the tempo of how things are supposed to be done. Each and every day, someone who is consistent. Someone who’s the ultimate competitor and will do whatever it takes to win.”
And that’s the right mindset. The yards and touchdowns will come and go, but that fundamental drive to stick with the team through thick and thin and give your all for the collective victory is what football is all about. However, having impressive stats certainly doesn’t hurt.
Dart joins the elite company of Tim Tebow, Aaron Murray, and Drew Lock, placing himself among just four players in SEC history to surpass 12,000 total career yards. He also broke Ole Miss’s single-season passing and total offense records, previously held by the legendary Eli Manning.
Despite all this positive momentum, if the Browns don’t end up drafting him, Dart reportedly has a few other potential landing spots in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants. It’ll be fascinating to see how the rest of this story unfolds on April’s draft day.
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