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With the 2025 NFL Draft just 30 days away, the race to secure the top quarterback spot has taken an unexpected turn.
While Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders were long considered the front-runners in this year's QB class, a new contender has emerged-and he's turning heads fast.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, once absent from many first-round projections, is now a serious name to watch, climbing draft boards at a pace that threatens to shake up the entire quarterback hierarchy.
Prior to the NFL Combine, the conversation was dominated by Ward and Sanders. Ward's rise to the top spot solidified following a dominant Pro Day, where he showcased not only his elite arm talent but also his poise, athleticism, and decision-making under pressure.
His workouts convinced scouts that he was NFL-ready, pushing him into the No. 1 overall discussion and cementing him as the current favorite.
Sanders was right there with him until Dart began making waves. Now, as Dart's stock climbs, Sanders may find himself fighting to hold his place in a top tier that once seemed secure.
Dart's rise shakes up quarterback rankings and draft boards
Jaxson Dart's rapid ascent has been anything but accidental. After a brief stint at USC, Dart transferred to Ole Miss where he steadily developed under head coach Lane Kiffin. Over his three seasons in the SEC, Dart honed his skills and gained valuable experience against top-tier competition.
His 2024 campaign was nothing short of sensational: 4,279 ing yards, 69.3 percent completion rate, and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 29-to-6. He led the nation in yards per attempt (10.8) and proved to be one of the most efficient and explosive quarterbacks in college football.
That production, combined with his maturity and leadership, has caught the attention of scouts and media analysts alike. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. recently stoked the fire when asked whether Dart could be selected ahead of Shedeur Sanders.
In a clip posted by @unsportslike, Kiper confidently replied: "Always a chance. It only takes one opinion, and he's closed that gap."
Kiper added that Dart has "that aura"-an intangible quality that can't be measured in stats but often sets future NFL stars apart.
"He's a kid with that aura," Kiper said. "An intangible quality that is going to, I think, lead him to keep moving up and up because that's what happens after the season's over."
As Dart rises, the spotlight is shifting away from Sanders. Once touted as a lock for the top three, Sanders now finds himself navigating a tighter competition.
Although his talent is undeniable-having delivered standout performances and proving his ability to lead on and off the field-questions remain about how teams are evaluating him compared to a surging Dart.