As recently as Monday, reports indicated that some NFL teams have Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart and not Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders ranked as the second-best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft class behind Miami’s Cam Ward, in part because “Dart’s game may translate to the NFL better.”
Former pro quarterback and current analyst Danny Kanell seemed to hit back at such takes during a Monday appearance on CBS Sports HQ.
“I don’t think there’s that much separation between the two, but there is a big difference in what you’re gonna get,” Kanell said about the prospects, as shared by Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. “I think Jaxson Dart is more athletic. I think he has a stronger arm. But he doesn’t have the perfect film that Shedeur Sanders has. I think there could be some upside, but I do think there is some bust potential with Jaxson Dart.”
Analysts voiced concerns about Sanders’ athleticism and arm strength even before he lacked “elite traits” and threw “a decent percentage of wobblers” during his pro day workout earlier in April. That said, it’s thought neither Sanders nor Dart should be asked to be a Week 1 starter as a rookie and should instead sit behind a veteran through at least a portion of this fall.
Kanell seems to believe Sanders could have the better career of the to-be rookies as long as he lands with the right team.
“Shedeur Sanders, on the flip side, I think he has a great floor. I don’t think there’s a chance Shedeur Sanders will be a bust,” Kanell continued during the segment. “His football IQ is the highest in this draft, but he does feel capped as far as what the upside potentially could be.”
As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Sanders as the betting favorite at -250 odds to be the second quarterback selected in the upcoming draft. Dart was second on the list at +200 odds.
In their latest mock draft posted on Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates predicted that a New Orleans Saints side that could be without Derek Carr for part of the 2025 campaign because of a shoulder injury would make Sanders the ninth pick of the draft. Kiper and Yates also had the Cleveland Browns trading up from overall choice No. 33 to No. 29 to grab Dart.
Cleveland could start either Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco over Dart until 2026.
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