For much of the offseason, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders have been the only quarterbacks talked about as first-round picks in the 2025 NFL draft. However, as the pre-draft process wraps up and we are less than a month to the draft, and a challenger has appeared. Ole Miss signal caller Jaxson Dart is making a case to be one of the first 32 picks, and this means the Pittsburgh Steelers are squarely in the mix to select him at No. 21 overall.
ESPN NFL draft pundits Jordan Reid, Field Yates and Matt Miller talked NFL draft buzz and were asked what percentage chance they give of Dart being chosen in the first round. Reid gave Dart a 75 percent chance which was the low of the group. Yates went up to 90 percent, and Miller showed a confident 95 percent chance.
Quarterback is definitely one of the Steelers top two draft needs, along with defensive tackle. If Pittsburgh doesn't come to terms with Aaron Rodgers, we can absolutely see the Steelers selecting Dart in the first round if he falls that far. On some level, Dart is everything the Steelers thought they were getting with Kenny Pickett but better. Dart is confident and athletic and his baseball background really helps him move and throw on the run with a ton of natural ability.
Dart threw for 4,276 yards in 2024 and 29 passing touchdowns to just six interceptions. Dart also rushed for 495 yards and three rushing scores. A lot of what Dart did last season was baked into the Ole Miss scheme and he will need to expand his vision of the field without pushing himself into mistakes throwing the ball.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: ESPN thinks Jaxson Dart goes in the first round
