NFL Draft Expert Argues Shedeur Sanders Is ‘Closer to [Jaxson] Dart Than [Cam] Ward’ as Stock Plummets

Sheduer Sanders and Cam Ward have been heavily projected to go No. 1 and No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft in the months leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine. But with the Combine now underway and fans and analysts alike getting to know other quarterbacks, Sanders’ draft stock is plummeting, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart is coming up.

NFL Expert Argues Over Sheduer Sanders’ Draft Stock

NFL analyst Lindsay Rhodes shared her key takeaways from the NFL Combine and noted that Sanders’ draft stock was falling while Ward’s chances of going No. 1 overall were increasing.

“Cam Ward is more highly regarded than I previously thought. People I talked to rattled off- comfortably- quite a few things they liked about him as a prospect. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went #1,” she notes.

While Ward and Sanders produced more or less similar numbers last season, Rhodes claimed there was a big difference between the two quarterbacks, with CBS Sports’ Mike Renner arguing that the Colorado QB was closer to Dart than the Hurricanes star.

“I think the gap between Ward and Shedeur Sanders is bigger than it’s being described. A “chasm” [Renner] called it.” (He thinks Sanders is closer to Dart than Ward.)

“I didn’t talk to anyone who had him as their QB1. And *everyone* I talked to about why he might go in the top 5 mentioned ‘QB needy teams’ as the top reason. That feels like poor process to me. Risky. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went later than expected.”

2. I think the gap between Ward and Shedeur Sanders is bigger than it's being described.

A "chasm", @mikerenner_ called it. (He thinks Sanders is closer to Dart than Ward.)

I didn't talk to anyone who had him as their QB1.

And *everyone* I talked to about why he might go in…

— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes) February 28, 2025

Dart wasn’t even considered a first-round pick a few weeks ago but has seen his stock rise with his performance against Duke in the Gator Bowl, leading Ole Miss to a 52-20 win over the Blue Devils with a dominant performance (404 passing yards and four touchdowns).

It’s worth noting that PFSN’s Marco Enriquez rates Dart higher than both Sanders and Ward in his latest mock draft. Nonetheless, he has the Rebels QB going well behind him at No. 26 overall to the Los Angeles Rams. Still, he wasn’t shy in expressing his confidence in Dart.

“Dart is my QB1 in this class, just slightly ahead of the aforementioned Ward and Sanders. Some may not like his big-game-hunting play style at times, but with strong coaching, he has all the traits to be a franchise cornerstone,” Enriquez wrote.

“Dart demonstrates dual-threat capabilities with strong mobility and the ability to extend plays. His arm strength is promising, but improving his accuracy and decision-making under pressure are going to be a priority,” he added.

Meanwhile, Enriquez predicts Ward going No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns and Sanders going No. 3 overall to the New York Giants.

“Ward has a lot of experience as a fifth-year player entering the draft. This experience has benefitted young quarterbacks as recently as this past year with Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix.

“Ward is two tiers below Daniels in my current prospect grading, but the potential is palpable. His mechanics are also sound — the real questions about him at the next level will be about his decision-making and accuracy. The [team that drafts him] will need to surround him with high-IQ coaching and veterans.”

On Sanders, “He will come with the sideshow and distractions due to his name, but … Sanders is the most accurate passer in the class, and he has the mobility to extend plays.

“Many question his arm strength, but having Malik Nabers lessens the concerns about his early-career success. His biggest obstacle will be his awareness of pressure. He tends to hold onto the ball too long and can sometimes move into pressure rather than away from it.”

With an impressive performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, it’s very possible that Dart significantly helps his draft stock.