One Crucial Reason Why Steelers Should Avoid Jaxson Dart
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart has been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in several mock drafts. He’s an intriguing prospect that appears to have a lot of upside, but there’s a strong argument that it would be a reach to take him at 21st overall. It could be Kenny Pickett all over again for the Steelers. And that’s the last thing the organization needs, as they’re currently stuck in quarterback purgatory.
Dart’s comp is actually Pickett. For that sole reason, the Steelers should want to avoid the Mississippi QB. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated received that comparison from an AFC college scout.
“He’s a good, scrappy player,” texted one AFC college scouting director, who called him a less-athletic version of Kenny Pickett. Tough, throws it well enough, doesn’t have a major hole to his game. There’s just no elite trait,” Breer wrote.
The Steelers will host Dart for a pre-draft visit at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in April, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.
Dart, 21, has been rising up draft boards over the past couple of months after throwing for 10,617 yards, 72 touchdowns and 22 interceptions during his three years at Mississippi. He also rushed for 1,500 yards and 12 more scores.
However, he is currently the consensus No. 31 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database big board. So the Steelers would likely have to use their first-round pick if they hope to land him.
Given the Steelers uncertain quarterback situation, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper thinks the Steelers could be in play for the highly-touted Mississippi signal caller at No. 21 overall. That’s if he’s available, however.
“I think Dart is in play earlier than (No. 21 overall),” Kiper said on Wednesday during his first 2025 NFL draft media call. “If he’s there, it would be really interesting. If you love him, you take him.
“If they don’t pull the trigger in the first round, they’ve got to wait until the third unless they move up. It’s going to be really interesting. If Dart is there (at No. 21), I say yeah, but I don’t think he will be.”
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah also had Pittsburgh selecting Dart at pick No. 21 in his mock draft.
“The Steelers’ plan at quarterback is not completely clear at the moment,” Jeremiah wrote. “Even if they were to land 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, they would still need a long-term option at the position, so they take another swing here with Dart.”