Jaxson Dart isn’t one to wait around. The Ole Miss Rebels’ QB1 has made it abundantly clear—he wants to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL, not a clipboard holder learning from the sidelines. That’s a bold stance for any rookie, especially in a class with blue-chip quarterback prospects Quinn Ewers, and Jalen Milroe ahead of him. Yet, despite his strong numbers and flashes of brilliance at the Senior Bowl, where he showcased a mix of poised throws and a rushing touchdown, some doubters have thrown him in “QB3” territory. And as one AFC scout put it, teams shouldn’t be viewing him as a first-rounder just yet. Now a $230 million man could feel his wrath.

Dart reportedly wants to be a “QB1” from the start of the season, per NFL Rookie Watch. Jaxson Dart’s confidence is built on more than just words; his 2024 season saw him put up a 29-6 TD-INT ratio, proving he has the arm talent and decision-making to be a franchise passer. His sentiment could shake up his stock as there have been many different scenarios for where he could be taken, and in a mock draft created by Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, he has this 3-14 AFC North team.

Enter the Cleveland Browns, a team that has been stuck in quarterback purgatory despite spending $230 million on Deshaun Watson to escape it. According to Trapasso, Cleveland could be the team to take a chance on Jaxson Dart, but not with their original first-round pick. Instead, a hypothetical trade with Washington could see them land the No. 29 overall selection, allowing them to grab the Ole Miss product while keeping their top-10 pick intact.

The deal, which involves sending superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett to Washington, would also net Cleveland additional draft capital, including a second-round pick and a conditional third. “The Browns go a unique route to land their quarterback, and being the No. 29 overall pick won’t cost this cash-strapped club nearly as much as if he was the No. 2 overall pick,” he wrote.

And they might need to. Deshaun’s tenure in Cleveland has been anything but smooth, with injuries and inconsistency defining his time in orange and brown. After suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2024, Watson was limited to just seven games, where he posted a pedestrian stat line—137 completions on 216 attempts for five touchdowns. If that wasn’t concerning enough, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported on January 10 that Watson had re-ruptured the tendon, requiring another surgery. With his 2025 status now uncertain, we could see Jaxson Dart calling Cleveland his new home.

Dart, for all his raw talent, would be stepping into a tricky situation. He has the mobility to extend plays, a quick release that suits modern passing schemes, and the toughness to take hits in a division known for its bruising defenses. But his accuracy issues and occasional erratic decision-making could be magnified in the AFC North, where defensive coordinators feast on young quarterbacks who struggle with pre-snap reads.

All the chitter chatter will hinge on the Browns’ decision on how they view Watson’s recovery and whether they think Dart can be more than just a contingency plan.

Who put Jaxson Dart in the alleged QB3 territory though?

Let’s be honest, the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl this year weren’t exactly lighting it up. The first day of practice was rough for passing offenses in general. Guys were getting used to being under center and working on their footwork—basically, it was the first practice jitter. Even Dart had his share of inconsistent throws and questionable choices, mixed with some impressive plays. But the Rebels QB bounced back and finished strong, putting himself in the conversation to be the third quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. While Jalen Milroe had what veteran ESPN analyst Louis Riddick called an “uneven” week of practice, Dart steadily gained confidence. By the end of the week, he looked like one of the more polished QBs in Mobile.

Still, not everyone is sold. One AFC scout told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that while Dart might not deserve to be a first-round pick, the lackluster quarterback class could push him up the board anyway. Desperate teams do desperate things—just ask the Panthers. Dart played under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, following in the footsteps of Matt Corral, who went in Round 3 but never played a snap in the league. Dart, however, put up some gaudy numbers—10.8 yards per attempt, a 69.3% completion rate, and 495 rushing yards in 2024.

The big question? Whether Kiffin’s offense translates to the NFL. One NFC staffer bluntly called it a “mess” in that regard. Dart will need to prove he can thrive outside Kiffin’s scheme, and the Combine plus pre-draft visits will be his chance to do just that.