As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, analyst Todd McShay has raised eyebrows with his latest assessment of the quarterback pecking order. While Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders has long been projected as a top-five pick, McShay believes Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart could leapfrog him on at least one team’s board—the New Orleans Saints.
The shifting quarterback dynamics hinge on new Saints HC Kellen Moore’s coaching history and player preferences, suggesting a surprise shake-up might be brewing. Moore’s absence from Colorado’s Pro Day contrasted with his attendance at Dart’s showcase, has draft insiders buzzing about a potential first-round surprise that could reshape draft strategies.
Saints HC Kellen Moore’s Coaching History Favors Dart’s Skill Set
New Saints head coach Kellen Moore brings a distinctive quarterback resume, having coordinated offenses for Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts during stints with the Cowboys, Chargers, and Eagles. The common thread? Mobile passers with cannon arms— the qualities McShay sees more readily in Dart than Sanders.
In his latest mock draft, Todd McShay notes how Moore might favor Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.
“I would argue that Dart’s tape shows more energy on the football and functional mobility to extend and advance the offense with his feet than Sanders’s,” McShay noted, drawing particular attention to the Hurts comparison many analysts have made regarding Dart’s play style.
The statistical comparison between Sanders and Dart reveals a fascinating contrast in playing styles that explains McShay’s assessment. Sanders posted an FBS-leading 74.0% completion percentage in 2024, while Dart led the nation with 10.7 yards per attempt, highlighting their divergent strengths.
Sanders thrives as a polished pocket passer with exceptional accuracy, boasting career numbers of 13,189 passing yards and 121 touchdowns against just 23 interceptions.
Meanwhile, Dart’s dual-threat capabilities are evident in his 1,541 career rushing yards compared to Sanders’s more limited mobility (628 positive rushing yards, though -127 net yards after sacks), underscoring the athletic difference McShay emphasized.
Dart’s superior performance under pressure is a crucial metric for NFL success, which further strengthens his case.
According to McShay’s analysis, “Dart’s tape against pressure last year was far superior to that of all the other quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class,” a claim that represents his subjective evaluation of Dart’s performance in pressure situations.
Where Sanders took a concerning 52 sacks in 2024, which is the highest among FBS quarterbacks, Dart demonstrated improvisational skills that have become increasingly valuable in today’s NFL. This stark contrast in pressure handling could prove decisive for teams like the Saints, whose offensive line has struggled in recent seasons.
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The draft implications extend beyond just the Saints’ potential interest. While most analysts view Miami’s Cam Ward as the consensus QB1, with Sanders typically projected as QB2 in the top five picks (potentially to teams like Cleveland or New York), McShay’s analysis suggests Dart could disrupt this hierarchy, at least for certain franchises.
As April’s draft approaches, this quarterback battle exemplifies how team-specific fits often trump general consensus. Sanders’s polish and accuracy remain elite, but Dart’s athletic upside and performance against pressure embody the modern NFL quarterback, creating a fascinating subplot in what’s shaping up to be a quarterback-rich draft class.
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