PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Several experts have discussed Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart becoming the Steelers first-round pick next month. Today he was a part of the school’s Pro Day with a Steelers rep in attendance.
Dart threw a variety of passes during the event televised by the SEC Network. His arm looked strong and his accuracy was nearly flawless from quick outs to 60-yard bombs.
This is amid a report from the Athletic’s Mike DeFabo that Dart will visit the Steelers South Side facility in the coming days. That’s not necessarily a surprise given their need at the position, but newsworthy that he will indeed visit.
At 6’2”, 223 pounds, Dart is the Ole Miss record holder with 10,617 passing yards and 12,115 of total offense. Last year he led all of FBS with 10.8 yards per attempt with 4,774 yards of total offense and third in passing yards with 4,279 including 404 yards and four touchdowns in a Gator Bowl win over Duke.
“From the season I think you hear your name in so many different things,” Dart said on the Paul Finebaum Show on the SEC Network. “In my eyes, the Draft is just the start of your journey and what you want to accomplish. I’m not really too big on it or care too much about what pick or what place I go in the Draft.”
Dart said he’s trying to have fun with the process as playing in the NFL is a childhood dream. Steelers were represented at the Ole Miss Pro Day by Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl.
According to NFL.com, Dart ranks ‘as a good backup with the potential to develop into a starter’. He is in the list right below the ‘will eventually be an average starter’. NFL Draft expert Todd McShay has the exact same rating for Dart as Colorado starter Shedeur Sanders behind only Cam Ward in this year’s quarterback class. Sporting News ranks Dart as the 56th best prospect in this year’s draft while the NFL Network says the Giants and Browns could be interested in Dart, but not with picks two or three overall, but trading up from the second round to the bottom of the first round. To that point, in the CBS Sports latest mock draft, Dart goes 26th overall to the Giants. The Steelers select 21st overall.