As with the NFL scouting combine over, that means NFL mock draft season is in high gear. The quarterback conversation has already taken on a life of its own. At the top, the debate rages with Cam Ward seemingly gaining the upper hand after a strong pre-draft process over Shedeur Sanders. Beyond them, it’s widely considered a weaker QB class—one filled with intrigue but lacking a true generational talent. Yet, one name continues to force its way into the discussion: Jaxson Dart. The Ole Miss Rebels’ dart-thrower has quietly built momentum.

After a strong showing at the NFL Combine. Dart’s finding himself in conversations he wasn’t in just a few months ago. Some see him as a fringe first-rounder, while others believe he could be a legitimate top-10 pick. But not everyone is playing by the same script. Where many draft pundits zigged, Charles Davis of NFL Network zagged just dropped one of the most shocking mock drafts of the season. Davis went bold, projecting Colorado’s Sanders as the 1 overall pick to the Tennessee Titans. That, in itself, wasn’t earth-shattering. But Davis didn’t stop there.

He had Miami’s Ward going 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns, a scenario that many in the league expected. Then came the real bombshell: Jaxson Dart, at No. 3, to the New York Giants. A quarterback who, at one point, seemed like a late-first or early-second-rounder, now being pegged as a franchise-changing selection in the top three? That’s a conversation-changer. Even David Pollack had to take notice. On his DP college football podcast, he welcomed NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah, who shed light on what he’s seen from Dart during the pre-draft process. “Jaxson Dart, you know, just seeing him live—he had a little bit more,” Jeremiah said.

He gave a nod of approval to Davis’ mock 1.0. “We saw it at the Senior Bowl, and then seeing it here… so the more I see him live, the more I appreciate that he can power the ball a little bit more than maybe I thought off of the tape.” That’s a notable shift in perception. While some passers look great in a controlled environment, Dart with almost the perfect name a QB can dream of seemingly improved his standing by simply stepping on the field and throwing in front of scouts. His ability to drive the ball downfield and showcase live arm strength is catching the right kind of attention at the right time.

But why would the Giants, a franchise that has whiffed on QB moves in recent years, be willing to take a gamble this high? Davis provided a simple but compelling argument. “The last time the Giants went all in on a QB from Ole Miss, it worked out pretty well,” he wrote. It’s a clear reference to Eli Manning, the two-time Super Bowl champion who delivered New York two Lombardi Trophies. But beyond nostalgia, there’s a practical reason for this selection. “I know people have not been projecting Dart to go this high, but New York has a screaming need at the position,” Davis added. After bypassing Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix in last year’s draft, the Giants can’t afford to sit back and watch another QB cycle pass them by.

Dart’s sudden rise is a testament to how unpredictable the pre-draft process can be. A strong Senior Bowl showing turned heads. A poised performance at the Combine shifted perspectives.

And now, with pro days and private workouts still to come, Jaxson Dart has a chance to cement himself as one of the biggest surprises of this draft class.

Davis’ No. 3 Jaxson Dart projection met with a slight “meh” by fanatics

Not everyone is buying the hype surrounding Jaxson Dart’s meteoric rise up draft boards, and his No. 3 overall projection has left some fans scratching their heads—or outright frustrated. But why the skepticism?

For many, the biggest question marks surround Lane Kiffin’s offensive scheme at the Rebels, with critics arguing that it inflates Dart’s efficiency numbers and doesn’t fully prepare him for an NFL-style offense. Others point to his arm talent, which, while solid, isn’t exactly on the “Josh Allen-level” of eye-popping power. But if you ask Dart himself, he’s tired of the lazy takes. When questioned about Kiffin’s system at the NFL Combine, he shut it down immediately:

“It’s a lazy narrative,” Dart said to the media in Indy, making it clear that he sees no major “schematic concerns” when transitioning to the pros. “The biggest differences between ‘pro’ systems and Kiffin’s have to do with the terminology; not much else.” Translation? Dart isn’t worried, and neither are NFL scouts. His draft stock keeps climbing, and as more people realize that most of the concerns are just recycled talking points.