NFL Draft: Steelers host Jaxson Dart as Aaron Rodgers continues to delay free agency decision

Steelers host Jaxson Dart as Aaron Rodgers continues to delay free agency decision

Modified Apr 04, 2025 22:57 GMT

Steelers host Jaxson Dart as Aaron Rodgers continues to delay free agency decision — Aaron Rodgers (L) | Jaxson Dart (R)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are planning for their future quarterback, Jaxson Dart. On Thursday, they hosted the Ole Miss QB for a visit before the 2025 NFL draft. The 22-year-old is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, and the Steelers seem very interested.

Among the Steelers' pre-draft visitors today, Ole Miss QB Dart was the most popular name. The franchise also had safety Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina, wide receiver Jaylin Noel from Iowa State and defensive end Jamaree Caldwell from Oregon in addition to Dart.

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This move comes as veteran QB Aaron Rodgers continues to delay his free agency decision, leaving teams like the Steelers not to keep all their eggs in one basket.

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Dart had an impressive college career in Mississippi under coach Lane Kiffin. In 2024, he had 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns. His dual-threat style and strong arm make him a great fit for teams looking to rebuild their quarterback room or roster.

Also read: “By not running, what are you hiding?” - Ex-NFL GM questions Shedeur Sanders, says Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough “are closing the gap”

CFB analyst sees Jaxson Dart alongside Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL draft

College football analyst Dan Orlovsky said Jaxson Dart is just as good as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. He suggested that Dart could even be a top-10 pick.

Orlovsky shared his thoughts on Friday during "The Pat McAfee Show."

"I'm a Jaxson Dart guy and I don't think that he makes it out of the top 10," Orlovsky said. "If I were the Raiders, the Jets, or the Saints, I would be very seriously considering drafting him in the top 10. He sees it well and he can throw it.

For me he is that one guy in the class, I say Cam (Ward) is No. 1 at the QB spot but Dart would be neck and neck with Shedeur for me."

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With the NFL draft approaching, it remains to be seen if teams like the Raiders, Jets or Saints will take Orlovsky’s advice and consider selecting the Ole Miss QB within the top 10 picks.

Also read: "He’s going to fall right in that 15, 16, 17 range ": Draft expert Mel Kiper views Jaxson Dart as a first-round pick

About the author

Prasen is an NFL/College Sports analyst at Sportskeeda. A B.Tech/Civil Engineering graduate, he has two years of experience writing content.

For Prasen, providing historical angles relevant to the story is important, as it can give the reader useful information and help them relate it to the present. He thinks this keeps the content unique rather than just a bland reporting of facts. Prasen believes in fact-checking and researching relevant information as per the headline and context. He hates clickbait or misleading the reader.

A fan of the Colorado Buffaloes since Deion Sanders took over as coach, Prasen expects Coach Prime to make the Buffs a national championship contender. Nick Saban is his favorite all-time coach, while Baker Mayfield and Caitlin Clark are his favorite players. Prasen considers Vince Young coming up clutch for the Texas Longhorns in the dying seconds of the 2017 national championship game against the USC Trojans as the most iconic moment of all time.

Per Prasen, College Sports is competitive and garners attention but it is just the beginning, where a student-athlete can show their skills and potential to make it to the big leagues. When he is not researching and writing, Prasen’s hobbies include pursuing higher studies and playing sports.

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Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos