Could the Steelers take a quarterback in the first round?

Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

Rumors are swirling at the NFL combine that the Steelers are interested in re-signing QB Russell Wilson ahead of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team elected to supplement a veteran with a rookie if that were ultimately the case.

Former Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart has been a late riser. The Steelers met with Dart at the combine and have done their due diligence on a handful of quarterback prospects.

The basics on Jaxson Dart

• Position: Quarterback
• Class: Senior
• Size: 6’2, 225 pounds
• Age: 21
• Projected draft round: Late 1st

Stats via Sports Reference

Jaxson Dart scouting report

Dart is likely competing to be the third quarterback selected in the NFL Draft, behind Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. He’s a dual threat with a wide range of abilities. He threw 29 TDs to just 6 INTs and scampered for 495 yards and 3 TDs with his legs. Remember that college quarterbacks lose rushing yards on sacks – so that number is probably closer to 700 yards. Dart started his career at USC before transferring to Ole Miss, where he played under Head Coach and well-known offensive guru, Lane Kiffin.

I watched a few full games of Dart, including Georgia and Florida.

He led his Rebels to a 28-10 win over the number two ranked Bulldogs — the first time Ole Miss had defeated an AP top two team at home in program history.

The first thing that jumped out at me was something that wouldn’t appear in the box score. Dart injured his ankle on the first drive of the game but returned on the third drive heavily bandaged. He’s a tough kid who is consistently going to leave it all on the field.

I’ve included the full game against Georgia here with some bullet points so you can pinpoint a few plays.

(0:32) – Dart consistently shows great touch, as witnessed here as he hits his tight end outside the numbers.

(1:52) – I wouldn’t call Dart’s arm strength elite – but he stands in the pocket and shows he has enough zip to translate at the next level.

(3:00) – This will likely be your favorite play from this video. Dart identifies the coverage, scrambles to his left, and instead of sliding he lays down the boom on Georgia S KJ Bolden.

A few general takeaways — he was creative in the pocket and unafraid to throw the ball over the middle against high-level competition. He was crafty and creative in the pocket, and consistently accurate when working through his reads.

Dart struggled against the blitz in the 1st half, completing just 1/5 of passes when rushed. He was 8/9 with a clean pocket, which could be slightly concerning. He also had a few passes batted down. He’s just 6’2, so that scares me. But he finished strong and led his team to one of their biggest wins in program history.

Unfortunately for Dart, plenty will remember this poor decision against Florida that changed the course of the Rebels’ season. Overall, he had a really solid showing but made the worst decision of his career in arguably the most critical moment. This interception was the dagger in Ole Miss’ playoff contention.

I’d red mark it as a small blip on an otherwise fantastic season and career.

I’d grade Dart a B in just about all categories. He can do everything well enough to be successful.

He’s got above-average arm strength, and mobility, and creates plays off-script. He’s polished, tough, and very smart — but I don’t see him having the highest of ceilings. I do wonder if Lane Kiffin’s offense was asking him to do enough mentally. There have been comparisons to Bo Nix, and I think those are reasonable. I had concerns about Nix’s height and wondered if his legs would translate to the next level. If you know when to use your legs, it’s just as important as how you use them.

I see a good NFL quarterback who will be in that 12-15 range in terms of starters in the league. That very much warrants a first-round pick.

Jaxson Dart Strengths

• Toughness
• Pocket presence
• Accuracy

Weaknesses

• Height
• Will collegiate success under Lane Kiffin’s play style translate to NFL?
• Struggles against blitz

What others are saying about Jaxson Dart

Lance Zierlein

Three-year SEC starter who saw improvement in play and production season after season. Dart has a stocky build and average physical attributes but good makeup and intangibles. He’s fairly accurate and rarely overcomplicates things for himself. He won’t strike anyone as a running quarterback, but he can find tough yards on the ground. He can make full-field reads but looks more comfortable grazing from the trough of the simple. He will need to work with better anticipation and decisiveness to win in tight windows as a pro. Teams might see physical and play similarities between Dart and Brock Purdy but such a pathway for Dart likely requires a balanced, ball-control passing attack that allows him to manage the game instead of driving it.

Ian Valentino

When clean, Dart eviscerates defenses with a low rate of potential turnovers. However, Dart shows a different side when there’s a rusher coming toward him. He gets unnaturally reckless, seeing his turnover-worthy throws almost double and actually outpaces his big-time-throw rate. That’s a massive red flag, even if he does well when blitzed. Four-man rushes who get through his blockers can cause chaos because Dart starts guessing when the coverage pattern isn’t made clear by extra defenders coming.

Jaxson Dart’s fit with the Steelers

As Captain Obvious would point out, quarterback is the most important position in sports. If you don’t have elite play from the position – you probably won’t win in the playoffs, as we’ve witnessed recently with the Steelers. If surrounded by a strong core of weapons, and an above-average defense, Dart is someone who could make an immediate impact — just like Bo Nix did in Denver.

I do have concerns about his ceiling, and I’m not sold on his ability to carry a team, if necessary.

With that said, I wouldn’t throw a fit if the Steelers took him at pick 21. That’s about the range I’d expect him to be drafted. He has the chance to be the best quarterback in an otherwise weak class.

What are your thoughts on Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!