Sep 21, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) reacts after a landing throughout the second half towards the Georgia Southern Eagles at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Petre Thomas-Imagn Photographs
When commissioner Roger Goodell known as the identify of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, eyebrows raised, typing paused and music got here to a halt.
May the New Orleans Saints be getting ready an analogous tune Thursday evening with the No. 9 decide within the draft?
In keeping with CBS Sports activities, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is the popular prospect for the Saints. Few media pundits, even these transformed from NFL scouting roles, talked about Dart because the QB2 behind Cam Ward, the presumptive No. 1 decide of the Tennessee Titans. Most did not think about Dart an possibility till very late within the first spherical.
Insider Aditi Kinkhabwala reported Thursday that “Dart will not fall previous the No. 9 decide and the Saints,” citing sources who had been adamant the Rebels’ all-time passing chief could be chosen forward of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
ESPN reported the Saints won’t be the one group able to hitch their wagon to Dart.
The New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers favor Dart because the QB2 within the draft, per the report, which mentioned the Giants met with Dart a number of instances and made extra journeys to campus to be taught extra about Dart as an individual.
It would not be the primary time the Giants went the Ole Miss path to discover a franchise quarterback. Longtime Giants quarterback Eli Manning, acquired in a commerce for Philip Rivers involving the Chargers in 2004, has already publicly endorsed the guy Rebels product.
“I like Jaxson Dart,” Manning mentioned in January of the QB class. “I’ve in all probability watched him greater than anyone, simply from watching Ole Miss video games. I have been round him and (he is) been an ideal child, been in the identical offense for 3 years and been profitable. Seen him develop and progress and appears to have the ability to make all of the throws.”
Dart attended the Manning Academy passing camp in highschool and has remained near a number of within the Manning household. He mentioned his transition to the Giants and their offense could be “clean” based mostly on related ideas employed by head coach Lane Kiffin.
New Orleans’ draft historical past at quarterback is skinny with one daring exception, who simply so occurs to be one other Manning by way of Ole Miss. Archie Manning was the No. 2 decide within the 1971 draft by the Saints, who’ve by no means picked one other passer within the first spherical.
The Saints are a group in transition below first-year head coach Kellen Moore with uncertainty across the well being of starter Derek Carr. Basic supervisor Mickey Loomis mentioned in a pre-draft press convention on Wednesday that the Saints won’t have full readability on Carr’s shoulder damage or a timeframe for his return to the sector earlier than the draft.
Dart led the SEC with 4,279 passing yards and had 29 landing passes and 6 interceptions in 2024. He handed for a profession complete of 10,617 yards in three seasons with Ole Miss and one at Southern California. He was first within the nation in yards per try with 10.8, making him a candidate to make use of Moore’s play-action, deep-ball dependent scheme.
–Subject Degree Media