In a world of predictable sports “takes,” this one can safely be labeled as the most predictable—especially during this specific New York Jets draft news cycle (and think about the territory that covers).
FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd called 2025 NFL draft prospect Jaxson Dart the next Zach Wilson. Who could have guessed this one?
“Jaxson Dart … folks, I see Zach Wilson of the Jets,” Cowherd recently said on his show titled ‘The Herd.’ “His best games were against Duke, Georgia Southern, and Furman. It’s Zach Wilson.”
Dart is an intriguing option
Dart, 21, was once considered a Round 1 longshot, yet he’s soared to heights that forced the NFL to formally invite him to attend the draft in person. This is the case for many reasons.
First and foremost, Dart plays the most important position in sports. Say what you want about an NBA superstar or NHL goaltender, but the NFL quarterback is simply the most critical man on the face of the sports’ Earth.
Throw in the current CBA’s system that ties salary ranges to specific draft slots, and general managers begin to treat the first-round quarterback as a pure lottery ticket. The days of getting it wrong to the point that it sets the franchise back several years are long gone.
With his obvious talent and overall moxy in tow, Dart becomes an intriguing option.
“He’s impressive, (a) good-looking kid, (and) confident under Lane Kiffin’s system,” Cowherd added. “But in big games, (he) wasn’t consistently accurate, (and) wasn’t great with pressure. Also, Ole Miss has big-time talent.”
The Dart-Wilson connection is obvious
The reason why so many pundits (and Jets fans) make the Dart-Wilson connection is pretty simple: The two individuals have an actual connection.
Dart and Wilson both played high school ball at Corner Canyon High School in Utah. Although the former Jets quarterback is four years older than the newer prospect, both Utah kids are familiar with one another because they grew up within the same school district.
Personally, any connection between the two that references their shared upbringing is silly. In fact, it’s as silly as claiming that a quarterback won’t succeed because of unrelated historical matters. Imagine thinking an Ohio State quarterback could never make it because every prospect from the same school before him failed.
The actual football is what matters. The film is the critical thing here, yet it’s wholly understandable if a listener questions Cowherd’s film “expertise.”
“This feels like Zach Wilson, where he’s gonna blow you away with his confidence. He’s got a little bit of an arm, but he was inaccurate in big games. I don’t think he sees the field particularly well. I don’t think he’s an anticipation thrower, whereas I think Shedeur Sanders is.”
Cowherd didn’t say anything outrageous, but he also didn’t expound brilliantly. Shedeur Sanders isn’t the appropriate hill to die on when discussing a quarterback’s anticipation skills.
Nevertheless, Cowherd could wind up being correct in the end. It’ll mainly boil down to which organization drafts Dart. Cowherd, the same man who constantly tells the world that “situation” is the main determining factor in a professional quarterback’s success rate, is already on the doom-and-gloom Dart train.
It’s highly doubtful the New York Jets select Jaxson Dart at No. 7, but his collegiate film is undoubtedly intriguing.
