The quarterback hoopla has never spun without a little chaos, but few predicted this late twist in the 2025 NFL Draft script. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders—once locked in as a top-5 pick—now finds himself going down in the slippery slope of draft boards. And while Deion Sanders still believes his son’s arm and mind are NFL-ready, some insiders are casting doubt on whether Shedeur has enough ‘superhero’ flair to justify that first-round status. Here enters a 6’2″ Mississippi boy, whose name is suddenly surging into the conversation, as he’s threatening to leapfrog Sanders at the eleventh hour.

On College Football Sports with IsmokeHiphop Live, host DJ Blessone pulled no punches while pointing to Jaxson Dart’s smiling photo on screen. “Jaxson Dart, who’s over here by me, he will be getting drafted before Shedeur Sanders,” he straight up said. “This is something I just found. I’ve been looking at it for a while—how things been progressing.” Blessone outlined a subtle shift, a trend most hadn’t picked up on: certain teams quietly shifting their focus from the well-hyped Shedeur Sanders to the Ole Miss QB. “Jaxson Dart, prior to this three-month period, just like every situation when it comes to the draft—he was predicted a two-day draft pick at best,” he explained.

What changed? Momentum. “The Ole Miss quarterback, who was a former USC quarterback—just embarrassing moments going on—nobody gets this type of situation and this type of luxury unless you know certain guaranteed things are happening.” Blessone sounded like a man who’d seen this movie before. “Now what’s going on right now—I’mma just be honest with you—Jaxson is also uh… he had an announcement on the 14th that he’s being invited to the NFL Draft out of nowhere.” Well, the hype? Understable. He’s the word of mouth now.

“Now he has an invite. Never had one before. Didn’t even talk about going. Now he has an invite. So he’s guaranteed to be in the top 10.” Blessone’s projection? “I predict he will be in the top six. He will go over Shedeur.”

That said, Blessone wasn’t sold on Jaxson Dart’s actual tape. “Jaxson Dart hasn’t showed me he’s an NFL talent like that at all, bro. The only thing he possesses is the frame,” Blessone said. “But we’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks like Blake Bortles… who are 6’5″ and above—what does that mean?” He continued, “Just the same way we’ve seen the Russell Wilsons of the world, Drew Brees, who are 6 foot and under—and they outperform their prototype counterparts. Stop telling me about how these type of quarterbacks look, how they’re marketable. Are they top-giving players that are worthy of the selection?”

Still, it’s not just internet chatter fueling Dart’s rise. Word is that several teams—including the New York Giants—are interested in the 6’2” Mississippi kid. FOX Sports insider Jordan Schultz revealed that Dart won’t fall out of the first round, citing several sources. One scenario making the rounds: if the Giants take Travis Hunter or Penn State’s Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick, they might trade up from No. 34 to snatch Dart before he slips past them. It’s more than just a speculative smoke signal— Giants HC Brian Daboll reportedly likes Dart’s “swashbuckling style and flair for the dramatic.” For a franchise that’s been starved for swagger at QB, that might be enough.

The irony? This sudden Dart renaissance has inadvertently pulled Shedeur’s résumé under the microscope. Yes, he’s the Big 12 Offensive Player Of the Year. Yes, he has thrown for over 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. But with so much NFL emphasis on intangibles, interviews, and public perception—especially following that “arrogant” label from a combine coach. His evaluation seems to be shifting from what’s on tape to what’s in the room. If there’s one thing draft season proves every year, it’s that narratives move faster than 40 times. One day you’re top-5, next you’re watching someone else snag your invite.

From the Steelers POV on Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart

If you’re hoping the Steelers would take a swing at a QB like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart with the 21st pick, you might want to pump the brakes. At least if you’re listening to NFL scout and analyst Matt Williamson. In his eyes, this year’s QB class isn’t exactly bursting with elite, can’t-miss talent. “Dart, no. Sanders, maybe. Only at 21, not to trade up,” Williamson said bluntly when asked if either QB is worth a first-round selection. It’s not that he hates their games — he’s just not convinced they move the needle, especially when you look around the AFC.

“The Steelers have to compete with [Joe] Burrow, Lamar [Jackson], Josh Allen, and [Patrick] Mahomes. The superheroes,” Williamson pointed out. “I want to aim higher than Shedeur Sanders — whether that’s this draft or, more likely, next draft.”

He gave Shedeur the credit for being “accurate, tough and composed,” but added he’s “not physically unique.” As for Dart? There’s some raw talent there, sure, but Williamson thinks he’s “further away from being a good NFL quarterback.”

In a conference filled with QB Avengers, the Steelers can’t afford to settle for ‘just OK’.