What pre-draft scouting reports said about New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart

[ASFN Admin]

The New York Giants did the expected at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL draft, selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. But then general manager Joe Schoen got a bit aggressive and mixed things up, trading back into the first round to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The selection of Dart was especially surprising given the fall of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the Giants' perceived interest. However, late reports proved accurate and Dart was, in fact, the apple of head coach Brian Daboll's eye.

Here's a look back at what the pre-draft scouting reports had to say about Dart.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com​

From Lance Zierlein:

Three-year SEC starter who saw improvement in play and production season after season. Dart has a stocky build and average physical attributes but good makeup and intangibles. He’s fairly accurate and rarely overcomplicates things for himself. He won’t strike anyone as a running quarterback, but he can find tough yards on the ground. He can make full-field reads but looks more comfortable grazing from the trough of the simple. He will need to work with better anticipation and decisiveness to win in tight windows as a pro. Teams might see physical and play similarities between Dart and Brock Purdy but such a pathway for Dart likely requires a balanced, ball-control passing attack that allows him to manage the game instead of driving it.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic​

From Dane Brugler:

A three-year starter at Ole Miss, Dart thrived in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.'s spread RPO, heavy play-action scheme (No. 1 in passing EPA per dropback in 2024). After transferring out of USC once Caleb Williams arrived, he found a home with Lane Kiffin and left Oxford with numerous season and career records, including the Rebels' all time lead in wins (28), passing yards (10,617) and total offense (12,117).

With his physical tools and rhythm passing, he was an ideal fit in Kiffin's quarterback-friendly offense, although the simplistic nature of the scheme leaves NFL scouts questioning his post-snap decision-making process when reads aren't as structured and predetermined. The other key concern is his tendency to prematurely drop his eyes once the pocket gets heated. However, his athleticism to buy time and scramble for positive yards is an asset. Overall, Dart needs time to develop his progression-based reads and anticipation (things he wasn't asked to regularly do in college), but he is a natural thrower of the football with promising mobility and high-level competitive intangibles. If allowed to develop at his own pace, he offers NFL starting upside in the right situation.

Matt Miller, ESPN​

From Matt Miller:

The most impressive performance I saw in person this season was Dart's 515-yard, six-touchdown day against Arkansas in early November. It showed all the reasons teams like him -- touch, timing, accuracy and an impressive deep ball. Critics point to Ole Miss' RPO-based offense and the lack of reads that Dart makes but when it comes to experience (41 career starts) and production (11,970 passing yards and 81 touchdowns), he has traits that NFL teams like.

Dart's solid all-around week at the Senior Bowl led into the combine, where his throwing session was the most impressive of any quarterback who worked out. He is a work in progress, but his experience and leadership traits are pushing Dart's draft stock into the first round even though he carries an early Round 2 grade.

Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network​

From Ian Cummings:

The Lane Kiffin offense at Ole Miss is one that consistently insulates QB production, and Jaxson Dart is the latest to ascend within it. His numbers improved year-over-year in college, culminating with 4,279 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024.

Now, Dart has some fringe first-round hype in the 2025 NFL Draft cycle. Looking at the physical profile, it’s easy to see why. At 6’2″, 223 pounds, he has good size, great athleticism, and toughness, plus a loose, elastic arm that can layer throws. The big question is exactly how translatable his game is to the pros.

There are flashes of window anticipation on film, but NFL progression work is scant, and he often drops his eyes under pressure. Starter potential is there, but he has work to do before he harnesses it.

Nick Akridge, Pro Football Focus​

From Nick Akridge:

Dart has one of the best two-year grading profiles of any quarterback prospect. It’s easy to see why when you turn on the tape. He does a good job of getting the ball to where it’s designed to go, and he knows what each throw needs. He excels in the intermediate and deep areas of the field and is constantly creating big plays with his arm. However, being able to quickly process information post-snap when things don’t go exactly as designed is still a big question with Dart. While you can typically bank on some quarterbacks to rely on their elite arm talent or playmaking ability, Dart isn't elite in either facet, which makes it hard to project him as a top-tier quarterback at the next level.

Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network​

From Keith Sanchez:

Jaxson Dart played in a Lane Kiffin offense that stretches the field both vertically and horizontally. The offense features the RPO and asks Dart to utilize his arm strength to hit open targets at all levels of the field. Dart is a mobile quarterback who can escape the pocket and make accurate throws on the run, allowing the play to be successful even if the protection breaks down. Dart's most intriguing athletic trait is his arm strength combined with his mobility, which allows play-callers to be versatile in what they ask of him. At Ole Miss, Dart runs everything from traditional pocket plays to QB rollouts and designed runs.

From the pocket, Dart appears to have an in-depth knowledge of the offense and can work through his progressions, scanning the field to find the open receiver. Dart has above-average arm strength and, more impressively, can throw the ball with touch. He demonstrates the ability to fit the ball into tight windows between two defenders, placing it in Cover 2 windows in front of the safety and behind the corner. Dart can also ramp up the velocity on the ball and fit it into the middle of the field between two defenders.

On the run, with called bootleg and rollout plays, Dart looks comfortable and plays with good pace and tempo. He can quickly identify his receivers and work through his progressions to find the open target, whether it's a deep receiver or a pass-catcher in the flats. Because of Dart's athleticism, he can also use his legs to pick up yardage—getting Dart out of the pocket is a high-percentage play in terms of gaining yards. Taking advantage of his athleticism, Dart is also asked to execute QB-designed runs, which helps keep the defense balanced. He can pick up timely yardage in key situations with his legs.

However, multiple facets of Dart’s game could use improvement. First, Dart needs to work on his willingness to throw into tight windows and become more comfortable delivering accurate passes to receivers who are only open by a step. On occasion, Dart will turn down tight-window opportunities that would be considered open in the NFL. He also needs to improve his deep-ball accuracy, which is tied to decision-making. Dart’s deep passes sometimes appear to be thrown to a general area rather than being aimed for a specific receiver. The decision-making becomes an issue when facing pressure, as Dart will occasionally attempt ill-advised passes that could result in turnovers at inopportune times. Dart needs to mature in high-pressure situations, learning not to force throws and instead let the game unfold.

Overall, Dart's appeal as a prospect stems from the combination of his natural physical tools, athleticism, and arm talent. He has some of the most impressive throws of any quarterback in this upcoming draft, showcasing his true upside and arm strength. However, he must improve his effectiveness and decision-making when throwing the football in high-pressure moments against competition that may be greater than or equal to his own team.

Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team​

From Kyle Crabbs:

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart has been a productive quarterback for several seasons after transferring from USC as a sophomore. Thanks to an effective marriage with offensive savant Lane Kiffin, Dart has made the most of his opportunity to play in the SEC by launching explosive pass plays to a slew of gifted pass catchers.

Dart has the necessary athleticism to get outside the pocket and extend plays, plus the arm strength to access most areas of the field when he’s flushed off his spot. However, the precision of his game will need tuning in the pros, as the supporting cast and offensive scheme at Ole Miss provide a margin for error that Dart’s play will likely not be afforded at the NFL level.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: What pre-draft scouting reports said about Giants QB Jaxson Dart

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