Veteran NFL general manager and New York Jets senior advisor Rick Spielman praised Ole Miss quarterback Jaxon Dart ahead of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
Rick Spielman Speaks About Jaxson Dart
With the NFL combine at the end of this month and the draft later on in the spring, Spielman sat down after the Senior Bowl for an interview. He highlighted the specifics of Dart’s game while not minimizing the other prospects.
Rick Spielman on J. Dart pic.twitter.com/0XpGyXYPMQ
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For Jets fans, Spielman’s words should not only resonate but provide a glimpse into what the team should look for.
After the disaster of the Zach Wilson and Aaron Rodgers Era, the team truly needs to move forward and begin to actually build the franchise the correct way, instead of placing metaphorical paint over ruined drywall.
Spielman did not mince words or pull any punches when it came to praising the former Mississippi standout.
“Each day he got better and better. Just looks like the position comes natural to him. When you have Sanders, you have Ward, there’s going to be a cluster about who’s going to be the third quarterback off the board,” Spielman said.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami quarterback Cam Ward stand head and shoulders above the rest of the 2025 NFL Draft QB class. However, some now see Dart as the clear No. 3 quarterback in this year’s class. As a result, that could merit a first-round draft pick.
Interestingly, Dart is somewhat similar to the Jets’ 2021 pick, Zach Wilson. They are both from Utah, stand 6’2″, and have excellent arm strength. However, that’s where the similarities end.
Dart chose to attend Ole Miss, which readied him for hostile environments. Also, his mentality appears more suited to the harsh New York atmosphere. Remember, Dart considers Eli Manning, an Ole Miss alum, a mentor.
Spielman Looking To Turn Jets Around
After serving as Director of Pro Player Personnel for eight years and three different NFL teams, Spielman took over as the general manager of the Miami Dolphins in 2004. That was a short-lived stay, losing a power struggle with then-head coach Nick Saban. This was pre-Alabama Saban, blessed with all the overbearing but little of the prestige.
A year after leaving Miami, Spielman landed a personnel job with the Minnesota Vikings. From there, he crafted a blueprint for roster building through the draft as he assembled a strong team, focusing solely on player drafting and development.
Star players who Spielman brought into the league include RB Adrian Peterson, WR/KR Percy Harvin, S Harrison Smith, WR Stefon Diggs, RB Dalvin Cook, and WR Justin Jefferson.
As a senior advisor, Spielman gets to try and undo the mess that the Johnson family and former general manager Joe Douglas unleashed on the franchise.
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Owned by Woody Johnson — billionaire heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire — the Jets have continuously failed to get their house in order. Stories of the owner’s teenage sons weighing in on personnel matters were the latest debacle last season.
Spielman knows how to put together a quality roster. The Jets need that knowledge in the room. After wasting pick after pick, Spielman can help get them back on track by acting as a trusted advisor.
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