With 30 days until the 2025 NFL Draft, the top picks are starting to take shape. Cam Ward (Miami), Abdul Carter (Penn State), Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter (Colorado) are dominating recent mock drafts. Before the Combine, Ward and Sanders were battling for the top QB spot, but as we are coming close to the draft, the table seems to be turning towards the Rebels’ star. Not even a month ago, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart was projected to get a second or third pick in the 2025 NFL draft. However, in recent weeks, it’s not Ward or Sanders but the Rebels’ star who has gained the upper hand heading into the draft. So, what exactly caused this sudden shift?

Renowned College Football analyst Mike Farrell also favored Dart to be the No. 1 pick and explained why the former Ole Miss QB will enter as the best quarterback in the draft. “As a three-year starter, Jaxson Dart led the Rebels to a 28-10 record and three bowl appearances,” Farrell wrote. “As a dual-threat quarterback, Dart added 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground for Ole Miss. With above-average arm strength and his running ability, there have been some comparisons to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.”

You can say Ward locked in his spot after an impressive Pro Day, solidifying his rise to QB1. And while the top two QBs seemed set in stone, Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart made a quiet but shocking leap. Until last week, Dart was not even a first-round pick in most mock drafts. Now, his stock is skyrocketing. But as Dart’s rise continues, it spells trouble for Shedeur Sanders. Truly, the draft landscape is shifting fast.

Jaxson Dart’s rise isn’t by accident—he’s earned it. After one season at USC, he made the leap to Ole Miss, thriving under Lane Kiffin. Each year in the SEC, he got better—more yards, more touchdowns, and sharper accuracy. In 2024, he led the conference with 4,279 yards and a 69.3% completion rate. He wasn’t just good—he was elite. Dart topped FBS in yards per attempt (10.8) and posted a stellar 29 TDs to just 6 interceptions. But now, rumors are swirling—is someone trying to sabotage Dart’s draft stock? A potential scheme has been confirmed, and the draft drama is heating up.

On March 27th, @unsportslike shook up the NFL Draft conversation with a viral X post. They shared a video clip of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., where he was asked a burning question—could Jaxson Dart be drafted ahead of Shedeur Sanders? Here, Kiper didn’t hesitate and said, “Always a chance. It only takes one opinion, and he’s closed that gap.” Then he praised Dart’s talent, calling him a “kid with that aura,” an intangible quality that “is going to, I think, lead him to keep moving up and up because that’s what happens after the season’s over.” As of now, with Draft Day approaching, Dart’s stock is rising.

As we inch closer to late April, the quarterback rankings remain in flux. Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders continue to shift in the draft conversation. Look, history tells us this happens every year. Oregon’s Bo Nix rose late. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. did the same last year. Go back 40–50 years, and the pattern repeats. Now, all eyes are on Dart’s rise. “I’m still thinking New Orleans,” said the ESPN draft analyst. Moreover, Mike Tannenbaum linked him to the Rams, and Pittsburgh is in the mix. Although he’s a first-rounder, but how high? That depends on which team values him over Sanders—if any do.

Then came Mel Kiper’s big statement: “I do think there is a chance that could happen.” While he doesn’t see Dart as his QB1, he admitted the Ole Miss star’s skill set makes it possible. Right now, while Dart may be QB3 according to draft projections, the battle is far from over. Dart is more than just a product of Kiffin’s offense—his accuracy, anticipation, and competitiveness set him apart. While not deadly accurate, he excels at fitting throws into tight windows and dropping deep passes in the bucket. On top of that, with solid arm strength, he can drive the ball downfield with confidence.

So the buzz around Jaxson Dart is shaking things up, although many mock drafts have Shedeur locked in as the No. 2 pick. As of now, if Dart goes #2, Shedeur’s landing spot suddenly becomes a mystery. But don’t think Shedeur is slowing down in this QB race. His $6B NFL fate just took a twist, but he’s still rising. In ESPN’s SportsCenter Special – Mike Tannenbaum’s NFL Mock Draft, former GM had him going No. 3 to the Giants. And the comparison? Kirk Cousins. “He had an outstanding year. Led the nation in completion percentage at 74 percent. I think he is a high-floor, lower-ceiling quarterback. I think you can win a lot of games with Shedeur Sanders. For me, the comp is Kirk Cousins. Kirk Cousins has had a really good NFL career,” said Mike, referring to Shedeur.

However, not everyone views Shedeur Sanders through the same lens as Mike Tannenbaum.

Shedeur Sanders’ NFL fate

After months of rumors linking Shedeur Sanders to the Giants, his draft night outlook is anything but certain. Now, his NFL fate hangs in the balance. Here, Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, however, isn’t convinced New York’s moves will hurt his stock. In fact, he believes Sanders would be better off in Cleveland. But with the draft nearing, the second-generation star now faces the possibility of landing with the team rookies fear the most.

Here, Cowherd said, “It does appear Cleveland, and I think this is a good fit, is going to take Shedeur Sanders. So, Cam Ward is going to number one. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland is going to go number two. The Giants got wind of it, and they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and they are probably into Travis Hunter… The Giants are stuck… They have made horrible decisions.”

However, Cowherd once favored a young talent like Sanders over the aging duo of Giants’ Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. But now, he sees the Browns as a more stable landing spot than their NFC rivals. Because with New York’s quarterback situation in flux, the team needs a long-term answer—and fast.

Not only the Giants or Browns, but other teams could make a move for Shedeur, shaking up the draft even more.