As far back as November, we have been consistently reporting that only two quarterbacks are being viewed as first-round prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. At the same time, we’ve been allowing for the potential that the usual, annual desperation from NFL teams at the quarterback position could lead to Day 2 or 3 passers being pushed into the first round with Ward and Sanders. 
We saw this happen last year. Early on in the pre-draft process in 2024, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye were viewed as the only first-round options, though Heisman-winner Jayden Daniels quickly forced his way into that conversation. Even after the conclusion of the College Football Playoff championship game, the two quarterbacks in that game, J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix, were not generally being viewed as first-round prospects. Eventually, we ended up with six quarterbacks being selected in the first round — all in the first 12 picks — with Bo Nix joining the party, as well.
It’s not an uncommon occurrence, and this year, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post has pegged Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart as the man to break into the first round with Ward and Sanders. “Book at least three quarterbacks to be taken in the first round of the draft,” La Canfora writes, citing that “too much demand” will overcome “not enough supply.” After watching the 21-year-old’s performance in the Senior Bowl, La Canfora quoted one general manager guaranteeing that Dart will hear his name on the first night of the draft. Another executive La Canfora talked to claimed that, while he himself wouldn’t select Dart that high, he believes Dart’s going Day 1.
Aside from his Senior Bowl performance, Dart had an impressive senior season for the Rebels, racking up the third-highest passing yards per game behind Ward (second) but ahead of Sanders (fourth). While Dart’s 29 passing touchdowns didn’t approach Ward (39) or Sanders (34), his six interceptions were fewer than both of his competitors.
Here are a couple other rumors surrounding common early conversations we’ve seen in the runup to the draft:
- Yesterday, ESPN’s NFL Nation released the results of some polling their reporters — Turron Davenport, Jeff Legwold, Daniel Oyefusi, and Katherine Terrell — conducted with NFL executives, coaches, and scouts at the Senior and Shrine Bowls. One interesting vote showed that of nine people asked if the top draft pick will be a quarterback, three said yes, four said no, and two were undecided. A big deciding factor for this will be what the Titans decide to do with their No. 1 overall pick; another factor will be if the team decides to address the quarterback position through the free agent or trade market before the draft.
- Another question NFL Nation posed was who the top quarterback in the draft is: Ward or Sanders? Of seven people asked, four sided with Ward while the remaining three went with Sanders. Oyefusi notes that the general consensus has Sanders as “a more refined pocket passer,” while “Ward’s arm talent and mobility give him the upper hand as a long-term prospect.” This goes along with most analyses we’ve seen that place Sanders just behind Ward with Dart as a distant third, if that.
- We’ve addressed plenty of speculation already on where Colorado athlete and Heisman-winner Travis Hunter may find himself playing at the NFL-level. Agreeing with early reports that Hunter is being viewed more as an elite cornerback prospect with the potential to contribute in certain packages as a wide receiver, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Hunter is being listed as a defensive back at the NFL Scouting Combine. Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal adds that, while Hunter is planning on working out with the defensive backs at the combine, the two-way athlete will run some drills with the wide receivers, as well.
I just can’t see how Tennessee (or any team) passes on Travis Hunter, regardless of “need”. He is easily the best player in this draft. I think he’s going to be an elite NFL CB, while also being a solid WR3. That’s a ton of value.
He won’t play both ways in the NFL, other than gadget plays on offense.
I believe he will play on both sides of the ball in the pros. If he slots in as a WR3, he won’t be in on the lionsshare of the offensive snaps. You’re not burning any extra roster spots if you need to carry a WR to spell him at times because Hunter is already your starting corner. There wouldn’t be a reason not to tap into his ability to create offense, and he’s shown the stamina and drive to play both sides.
The opportunity for injury is just far too high in that setup. If Hunter truly is an elite corner, teams are going to want him available. The potential for injury is high enough by default in the league; having Hunter increase his snap share significantly seems like an unnecessary addition to that.
I just don’t see it happening on a normal basis-packages, for sure, and possibly in case of another player’s injury, but Hunter won’t be a full time, high snap count starter on both sides of the ball in the NFL, no matter his individual capability.
Sure, the injury risk is there. In the pros you have to do everything you can do to win football games, though. Hunter touching the ball on offense helps you do just that, unless you’re one of the few teams that have 3 or 4 WRs more talented at the position than Hunter is.
It is a unique situation though, for sure. I can’t remember a player that played two positions on opposite sides of the ball as well as Hunter does. I just don’t see how teams won’t want to capitalize on that fully.
I see why you say that, and I think that would be awesome to see, but I just don’t think that teams would allow it. It’s less about what the actual risk is-which isn’t insignificant-and more about what teams are willing to take on. I just don’t think that they would do that for a full time starter, and definitely not a first round pick. A gadget player like Taysom Hill or a Day Two pick, perhaps, but not a first rounder and definitely not a starter.
If Hunter doesn’t live up to expectations and ends up as a lesser snap count guy, I could see it. But I couldn’t see it with him as a starter. We’ll see how it turns out, though. It certainly would be much interesting in your scenario, I think.
There is no true #1 qb. Hunter should be 1st he showed the stamina to play both ways so conditioning is not an issue. He will be a cb and can give 10-20 offensive plays.
Can’t complain with those numbers from Dart on an efficiency basis.
If a team like the Giants or Titans opts for a position player in the top 5, then Dart could be a valuable pick at the top of the 2nd
I think that the concern for him is the system that he ran. He has physical talent and experience, but Kiffin’s simplistic option offense just doesn’t work long term in the NFL. He doesn’t normally have more than one read in his offense, and the Kiffin scheme is more about scheming receivers open than it is asking the quarterback to read a defense and find secondary options. It’s effective in college, but too simplistic for the NFL for success outside of a few seasons. Even then, you still need a quarterback good enough in that offense to make it work for that long-Dart could be that guy, but it’s a gamble.
Dart will get picked highly due to the dearth of options at that position this year, but the Kiffin offense just doesn’t ask the quarterback to do what the NFL will, so Dart will have to assuage those concerns for any interested parties. His sheer efficiency and good production make him impossible to completely ignore, though, and his having a good day at the Senior Bowl outside of his system also is a positive for a team who may want to have him as a developmental option in the background (like, say, Tennessee if they trade out of number one, as expected, while employing a quarterback-whisperer style coach who might want to try and mold a new guy-just a possibility).
I have a hard time thinking of many colleges schemes that aren’t so basic.
That’s just the reality of the college level ball.
Dart seems like an athletic kid who’s been efficient through the air.
6’2 225 he reminds me a bit of Chad Pennington
That’s true in today’s game. But hasn’t that also been a major factor in contributing to the general decline of quarterback play in the league?
Consider, for instance, the starters that we had in the NFL in 2014, ten years ago (from last season): Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matt Stafford, Andrew Luck, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and Eli Manning (mixed opinions, I know, but he had accomplished career). Those are just eleven of the thirty-two, but it’s a pretty accomplished list, any of whom could more easily be a top five quarterback in our current NFL than they were in that version of the league. Hell, I didn’t even include mid level quarterbacks like Joe Flacco. Derek Carr, or Cam Newton. Russell Wilson isn’t even up there on the list.
All of these players were legitimate franchise quarterbacks who played five plus years with their respective teams. We have several great quarterbacks today-Burrow, Allen, Jackson, Mahomes, and Herbert stand out, amongst several others-but the top to bottom quality just doesn’t compare.
Some of that is the easier rules, but then again, changing rules to benefit offense only becomes necessary when the offense isn’t good enough on its own to score. A lot of that is simplified college offense, with fewer experienced starters. The NFL might be simplified as well as a result, but it still requires some level of sophistication because of the greater experience of NFL veterans who know how to run more complex schemes. So you might get a few good years out of a Dart type player’s athleticism, but he’ll have to adapt to make that success long term. It’s a gamble.
I have him round 2
I think that’s reasonable, and appropriate for this draft.