When commissioner Roger Goodell called the name of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, eyebrows raised, typing paused and music came to a halt.
Might the New Orleans Saints be preparing a similar tune Thursday night with the No. 9 pick in the draft?
According to CBS Sports, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is the preferred prospect for the Saints. Few media pundits, even those converted from NFL scouting roles, mentioned Dart as the QB2 behind Cam Ward, the presumptive No. 1 pick of the Tennessee Titans. Most didn’t consider Dart an option until very late in the first round.
Insider Aditi Kinkhabwala reported Thursday that “Dart won’t fall past the No. 9 pick and the Saints,” citing sources who were adamant the Rebels’ all-time passing leader would be selected ahead of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
ESPN reported the Saints might not be the only team ready to hitch their wagon to Dart.
The New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers favor Dart as the QB2 in the draft, per the report, which said the Giants met with Dart several times and made additional trips to campus to learn more about Dart as a person.
It wouldn’t be the first time the Giants went the Ole Miss route to find a franchise quarterback. Longtime Giants quarterback Eli Manning, acquired in a trade for Philip Rivers involving the Chargers in 2004, has already publicly endorsed the fellow Rebels product.
“I like Jaxson Dart,” Manning said in January of the QB class. “I’ve probably watched him more than anybody, just from watching Ole Miss games. I’ve been around him and (he’s) been a great kid, been in the same offense for three years and been successful. Seen him grow and progress and seems to be able to make all the throws.”
Dart attended the Manning Academy passing camp in high school and has remained close to several in the Manning family. He said his transition to the Giants and their offense would be “smooth” based on similar concepts employed by head coach Lane Kiffin.
New Orleans’ draft history at quarterback is thin with one bold exception, who just so happens to be another Manning via Ole Miss. Archie Manning was the No. 2 pick in the 1971 draft by the Saints, who have never picked another passer in the first round.
The Saints are a team in transition under first-year head coach Kellen Moore with uncertainty around the health of starter Derek Carr. General manager Mickey Loomis said in a pre-draft press conference on Wednesday that the Saints might not have full clarity on Carr’s shoulder injury or a timeframe for his return to the field before the draft.
Dart led the SEC with 4,279 passing yards and had 29 touchdown passes and six interceptions in 2024. He passed for a career total of 10,617 yards in three seasons with Ole Miss and one at Southern California. He was first in the nation in yards per attempt with 10.8, making him a candidate to employ Moore’s play-action, deep-ball dependent scheme.
