When commissioner Roger Goodell known as the title of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons with the 8th select within the 2024 NFL Draft, eyebrows raised, typing paused and song got here to a halt.
Might the New Orleans Saints be making ready a identical song Thursday evening with the No. 9 select within the draft?
According to CBS Sports, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is the most popular prospect for the Saints. Few media pundits, even the ones transformed from NFL scouting roles, discussed Dart because the QB2 at the back of Cam Ward, the presumptive No. 1 select of the Tennessee Titans. Most did not believe Dart an possibility till very past due within the first spherical.
Insider Aditi Kinkhabwala reported Thursday that “Dart won’t fall past the No. 9 pick and the Saints,” mentioning resources who had been adamant the Rebels’ all-time passing chief can be decided on forward of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
ESPN reported the Saints will not be the one group in a position to join their wagon to Dart.
The New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers want Dart because the QB2 within the draft, consistent with the record, which stated the Giants met with Dart a number of occasions and made further journeys to campus to be told extra about Dart as an individual.
It would not be the primary time the Giants went the Ole Miss path to discover a franchise quarterback. Longtime Giants quarterback Eli Manning, received in a industry for Philip Rivers involving the Chargers in 2004, has already publicly counseled the guy Rebels product.
“I like Jaxson Dart,” Manning stated in January of the QB elegance. “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 highschool and has remained on the subject of a number of within the Manning circle of relatives. He stated his transition to the Giants and their offense can be “smooth” in response to identical ideas hired by means of head trainer Lane Kiffin.
New Orleans’ draft historical past at quarterback is skinny with one daring exception, who simply so occurs to be some other Manning by way of Ole Miss. Archie Manning used to be the No. 2 select within the 1971 draft by means of the Saints, who’ve by no means picked some other passer within the first spherical.
The Saints are a group in transition underneath first-year head trainer Kellen Moore with uncertainty across the well being of starter Derek Carr. General supervisor Mickey Loomis stated in a pre-draft press convention on Wednesday that the Saints would possibly now not have complete readability on Carr’s shoulder damage or a time frame for his go back to the sector ahead of the draft.
Dart led the SEC with 4,279 passing yards and had 29 landing passes and 6 interceptions in 2024. He handed for a profession general of 10,617 yards in 3 seasons with Ole Miss and one at Southern California. He used to be first within the country in yards consistent with strive with 10.8, making him a candidate to make use of Moore’s play-action, deep-ball dependent scheme.
–Field Level Media