Deshaun Watson's coach serves reality check to Jaxson Dart-first round pipedream ahead of draft -"Are we that QB desperate?"

Jaxson Dart has gained some consideration as a potential first-round selection in the upcoming draft, thanks to a 2024 breakout at Ole Miss that saw him throw for nearly 4,300 yards and 30 touchdowns. That said, QB coach Quincy Avery has a stern message for the overzealous fans and analysts: such notions are nothing more than a pipedream, and those people need to temper their expectations.

On Monday, the personal coach for Deshaun Watson put forth his argument against teams trading up for the quarterback prospect on his social media account:

"Really wild to me there are people talking him in 1st round. Like are we that QB desperate? He's got one of the best play designers in CFB getting guys open left and right and the few times he has to go through a progression it looks very difficult."

Speaking on 93.7 The Fan, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Mark Kaboly raised doubts on the Steelers' desire for Dart, given their lack of tape on him, even if Aaron Rodgers were to decline joining and retire instead.

It stands in contrast to The 33rd Team's Ian Valentino, who considered him "a consistently good" Pro Bowl- and Super Bowl-worthy player despite not having an "exceptionally high" ceiling in a mock draft - one whom GM Omar Khan should consider regardless of how his negotiations with the multiple-time MVP pan out.

These developments come after Jaxson Dart was among a group of players whom the organization worked out on Friday.

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Saints, Browns also linked to Jaxson Dart

Should the Steelers snub Jaxson Dart, there are still other teams who could show interest in him. One, according to ESPN's Jordan Reid, is the New Orleans Saints, who are looking for a better successor to Derek Carr than Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener have each proved to be.

Another possible destination is the Cleveland Browns, who desperately need a quarterback after losing Deshaun Watson to yet another Achilles injury. Tony Grossi proposed this when speaking on 850 ESPN Cleveland, while also mentioning former SEC rival Jalen Milroe from Alabama:

With a little over two weeks left until the draft at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin the clock is ticking for the Browns to make their call.