Jaxson Dart basically flipped the script on his NFL doubters. Once seen as just a mid-tier prospect, he had a senior season that had scouts doing double-takes. While stats don’t tell the whole story, his were crazy good—career highs across the board. Now, with that $10.1 billion franchise openly hunting for a QB, they might just take a shot. Suddenly, Dart’s draft stock is soaring; like, even Mel Kiper’s ESPN mock draft now has him as the third QB off the board. Well, he’s still way below at No.43, but his stock is definitely on the rise.

What’s really turning heads is his film and football IQ. It wasn’t just arm strength; he was dissecting defenses, hitting 69.3% of his passes with serious accuracy. 4,279 yards and a 29-to-6 TD-INT ratio? That’s leadership and a high ceiling right there. Some scouts still have questions about his NFL fit, but others see a pro-ready QB. According to NFL Rookie Watch, Dart checks all the boxes—size, arm strength, athleticism—making him a potential first-rounder. An NFL scout even said, “Jaxson Dart reportedly has all of the intangibles and physical attributes that NFL teams look for with the first overall pick.” Looks like his work is paying off.

But it’s not just film. His interviews and pre-draft meetings are huge. Teams want to see if he can read NFL defenses, and that’s where things get interesting. As one AFC scouting director put it, “The Ole Miss offense doesn’t prepare QBs for the NFL.” And that’s the tricky part, especially considering Lane Kiffin’s track record with QBs.

While Ole Miss has produced NFL talents like Archie and Eli Manning, questions linger about Lane Kiffin’s offensive system. The system is designed to excel in college football rather than develop quarterbacks for the professional level. It simplifies reads, relies on pre-set options, and often doesn’t challenge quarterbacks to read full-field defenses. While those SEC offenses light up scoreboards, they don’t always expose QBs to the scheme diversity you see in the NFL. That’s a potential hurdle for Jaxson Dart.

However, let’s not just sleep into the shortcomings. As the AFC scouting director also added, “Teams want to see if he knows how to read a defense. That’s what will separate him from a top-5 pick to a 2nd-round pick. He has everything else you look for.” Plus, teams like the Giants, Raiders, Jets, and Seahawks all reportedly have a “significant interest” in landing Jaxson Dart. Combine’s coming up, Feb 27-March 2 in Indy, and will see Dart participating in throwing drills. And word on the street is, “Many NFL scouts believe Dart could ‘very well’ be the most impressive QB during the throwing portion of the NFL Combine.” But amid all the draft buzz enters a team stuck on the quarterback carousel, desperate to plant its flag with a long-term answer.

Jaxson Dart’s increasing draft stock amidst Cowboy’s interest

Well, the Cowboys sit at No. 12, but they’re making noise like they run the whole draft. And just like that, Trey Lance’s time in Dallas might be hitting the exit ramp. But Stephen Jones made it clear—the Cowboys’ plan to shake up the QB room. Now with Lance and Cooper Rush making their move towards free agency, things are taking a weird turn in Dallas. The team is up for a QB hunt despite already having one.

Dak Prescott still remains a key figure in Dallas, having three years left on his contract and a league-leading salary of $47.75 million this season. However, the Jones family and new head coach Brian Schottenheimer are looking to add some competition for Prescott. Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko have expressed their desire to draft a young quarterback for development. And Jerry Jones didn’t shut it down; he just ignited the whole stance.

He said, “You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said. “I don’t know where that’s going to be.” Plus, he even doubled down, pointing to how quarterbacks always fly off the board earlier than expected. “That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first.”

Enter Jaxson Dart. So, Ole Miss’ star quarterback, is a mid-round prospect, but the Cowboys, looking for a developmental QB, might just snag him. See, Dart is known for his fearless and energetic playing style, which gives out backyard football energy. And he aligns well with Dallas’ preference for gunslingers. While he may not be a first-round pick, Jones’ interest in a young QB and Dart’s impressive performance at the Combine could make him an ideal choice for the Cowboys.

Now, the real show starts when the Cowboys draft a QB this April. Especially after that whole Trey Lance thing—another developmental pick? They’ll need some serious spin.