Newest NFL Draft rumors on Jaxson Dart, Will Campbell, and a shock commerce candidate

Welcome to Draft Week.

It’s possible you’ll really feel like you may have made it, expensive reader, however there are nonetheless some miles to run till we attain the end line. However we are able to do it, collectively.

Here’s a take a look at the newest rumors across the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jaxson Dart: A primary-round QB with a third-round grade?

As we have now mentioned at size in these pre-draft rumor roundups, the historical past of quarterbacks being pushed into the primary spherical is prolonged. Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Jalen Milroe are the newest passers on that listing, with all three being mentioned as potential first-round QBs on Thursday evening.

The majority of the excitement facilities on Dart, the Mississippi passer who continues to pop up within the first spherical in mock drafts. The newest mock to have Dart within the first spherical comes from Tyler Dragon, who has been protecting the league for USA Immediately for years. Dragon has Dart coming off the board with the ultimate decide within the first spherical, because the New York Giants commerce again into the primary to pick out the Mississippi QB.

Nevertheless, you will need to keep in mind the distinction between being a first-round decide and having a first-round grade. Discuss to scouts and you’ll study that for many groups, round 15 gamers have an precise first-round grade. However with 32 picks on Thursday evening, some gamers with no first-round grade are going to return off the board.

That’s very true for quarterbacks, given the necessity on the place. And in keeping with a number of the rumors round Dart, that can certainly be the case if he’s picked within the first spherical. In response to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, whereas Dart may come off the board within the first 15 picks, many groups have a second or third-round grade on him.

“There’s plenty of intrigue and buzz round Jaxson Dart,” Fowler mentioned Sunday on SportsCenter “The Saints have performed plenty of homework on this quarterback specifically. And the Steelers have a powerful grade on him as properly. So, any individual may make a transfer on Dart regardless that plenty of groups do have a second-round or third-round grade on the quarterback.”

This additionally comes as Dart’s title was faraway from the listing of gamers who can be attending the draft this week.

Patriots zeroing in on Will Campbell

Whereas the precise order is but to be decided, consensus holds that the highest three picks will likely be Miami QB Cam Ward, Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter Jr., and Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter. Whether or not Hunter comes off the board second to the Cleveland Browns, or it’s Carter, stays to be seen.

Now plainly the celebs are aligning for the fourth-overall choice.

In his Friday pre-draft convention name Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Community joined the refrain of analysts pointing to the New England Patriots drafting LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell in that spot.

“With the Patriots, I simply have regularly heard that offensive sort out was going to be addressed, and I’ve regularly heard that that’s Will Campbell’s spot,” mentioned Jeremiah.

“So it’s not common across the league, however the feeling in speaking to of us is that Will Campbell is absolutely well-liked inside that constructing in New England,” added the NFL Community analyst.

We’re getting nearer to placing the Jacksonville Jaguars on the clock, not less than in concept.

A shock decide at No. 6 may alter the Jets’ plans

Ashton Jeanty coming off the board to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 is without doubt one of the picks you see in mock drafts that looks like it’s set in stone. In reality, Raiders common supervisor John Spytek fanned these flames himself final week. Talking with The Athletic, Spytek talked concerning the significance of operating backs, and pointed to what the Philadelphia Eagles did final season after including Saquon Barkley.

“I’m going to watch out about speaking about any particular participant, however extra broadly to the operating again query: We simply noticed Saquon Barkley change the Eagles in a single 12 months,” Spytek mentioned when talking with The Athletic. “Now, they’d an incredible group round him and added an elite participant. And I believe the place we sit, the concept is so as to add elite gamers at any place. I don’t attempt to devalue any sure place. … There’s sure methods to construct a group, and I don’t know the place we obtained to a spot the place we don’t really feel like operating backs are helpful.”

With Jeanty coming off the board at No. 6, most mock drafts have the New York Jets taking the most effective offensive lineman accessible, typically Missouri sort out Armand Membou.

However what if the Raiders shock everybody and take an offensive lineman, maybe Membou, at No. 6?

That’s the rumor mentioned by Jets insider Wealthy Cimini of ESPN, who pointed to Penn State tight finish Tyler Warren, or Texas sort out Kelvin Banks Jr., as choices at No. 7 if Membou have been to be picked forward of the Jets by the Raiders.

Cimini has typically pointed to tight finish as a place of want for the Jets, which could additionally supply a window into the considering in New York:

Is Atlanta a trade-down candidate?

Most mock drafts have the Atlanta Falcons staying put at No. 15 and including a move rusher, given their want on the sting and the depth of that

place on this draft class. Nevertheless, in case you take a look at the present draft order, the mid-teens may see a run on move rushers.

After Atlanta at No. 15 there are two different groups — Arizona at No. 16 and Cincinnati at No. 17 — that would add move rushers in these spots.

May that open the door to the Falcons buying and selling down for groups hoping to get a move rusher, and bounce in entrance of each Arizona and Cincinnati? That’s the concept floated by ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid in addition to Sportskeeda draft insider Tony Pauline. As Pauline notes:

“I’ve talked about a number of instances that I consider the Arizona Cardinals, who maintain decide No. 16, could possibly be a flashpoint for a group that wishes to leap in entrance of the Cincinnati Bengals and draft an edge rusher,” wrote Pauline late final week. “But individuals consider the Atlanta Falcons, the group deciding on simply forward of the Cardinals, could possibly be the spot groups bounce as much as. They level to the truth that the Falcons can be open to shifting down, as they personal simply 5 draft picks this 12 months, together with a pair within the ultimate spherical, and so they may nonetheless get a very good frontline defensive participant late within the first.”

Groups which may transfer up for a move rusher? Groups like Baltimore, Detroit, and Washington are sometimes linked to move rushers in mock drafts.