2025 NFL Draft: Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart reverses course, will not attend event and sit in green room
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart will not be at the 2025 NFL Draft when his name is called. Dart — who was originally expected to attend the event — apparently changed his mind about that decision with the draft just around the corner, according to ESPN.
Dart was initially listed as one of the 17 players attending the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. The NFL put out an updated list of attendees Thursday, and two players — Dart and Georgia pass rusher Mykel Williams — were no longer on the list. Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was a new addition, meaning a total of 16 players will be at the 2025 NFL Draft.
No reason was given for Dart's decision to pull out of the event. The prospects who attend the draft are typically players expected to go in the first round. That appears to be the case again this year, as a number of the prospects attending the draft are listed as top-32 prospects on Yahoo Sports' big board.
Only two players on the list of updated attendees fall outside Yahoo Sports' top-32, Hairston and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. Hairston ranks 55 on Yahoo Sports' big board. Milroe ranks 69th.
Dart, meanwhile, ranks 70th on that list. If he did attend the 2025 NFL Draft, he would have been the lowest-ranked Yahoo Sports prospect at the event.
That doesn't necessarily mean much. Quarterbacks tend to get pushed up in the NFL Draft, and it's likely Dart and Milroe both go higher than anticipated during the event.
For Dart, however, taking his name off the list of attendees could signal that he isn't going as early as he expected. Prospects who attend the draft run the risk of increased scrutiny and attention if they unexpectedly fall on draft boards. Aaron Rodgers and Brady Quinn are two of the best examples of that phenomenon. Both players fell much farther than expected during the NFL Draft, and sad shots of them waiting in the green room dominated the conversation on draft night. It's possible Dart wanted to avoid that situation and decided he was better off enjoying his moment elsewhere.
It's also possible Dart had other reasons for declining the event. Maybe he simply wanted to be surrounded by friends and family? We don't know. His decision doesn't necessarily have to do with his draft stock.
After throwing for 29 touchdowns, six interceptions and an SEC-leading 4,279 yards, Dart will hear his name called during the 2025 NFL Draft. While there are questions about how he'll transition to the league, Dart has quality traits. That should be enough to entice certain general managers, especially those who can afford to let Dart sit behind a quality veteran for a season while he adjusts to the NFL.
It doesn't really matter where Dart is when that call comes. It will be a special moment for him regardless of his location.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What is Alabama football path to 2025 SEC championship? What metrics show
ESPN's College Football Power Index gives Alabama football a fighting chance at an SEC title. The Crimson Tide has the third-best FPI, the fourth-best chance to make the College Football Playoff and the third-best chance to win a national championship. And the odds are just as good for Alabama to secure its 35th SEC title. Advertisement Alabama, per the FPI metrics, has a 17.2% chance of winning the SEC in 2025 behind Texas (34.1%) and Georgia (26.9%). With the 10th-toughest schedule in college football, what could be Alabama's path to an SEC title? Here are three things Crimson Tide fans should watch out for based on ESPN's FPI rankings: Alabama could enter SEC championship with two losses Texas and Georgia, the two teams with the best chances of reaching the SEC championship game, are projected to finish the regular season — including a possible conference title game — with two losses. The Bulldogs, which won the SEC championship in 2024, did so with regular-season losses to the Crimson Tide and Ole Miss. Advertisement ESPN's FPI rankings project Alabama to finish the 2025 regular season with 2.8 losses, slightly more than the Longhorns (2.1) and Georgia (2.3). SEC championship teams shouldn't be expected to arrive in Atlanta without a scratch. Alabama at Georgia could be turning point in SEC championship race Just like 2024, the storyline surrounding Alabama's opening SEC game against Georgia will likely be its SEC championship implications. Head-to-head against the Bulldogs could play a big factor in who reaches the SEC title game. And while both Alabama and Georgia each have long conference schedules after facing off — something the Crimson Tide knows well — the trajectory of each team in 2025 could be decided in Athens. Alabama football month-long stretch may decide SEC championship hopes Alabama vs. Georgia may put the Crimson Tide on its SEC championship trajectory. But one five-week stretch will definitively set Alabama's path toward or away from Atlanta. Advertisement After starting its conference schedule at Georgia, vs. Vanderbilt and at Missouri, Alabama will face a four-game stretch against teams ranked in the top-16 in FPI: Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU and Oklahoma. Even if Alabama falls to Georgia, or loses to Vanderbilt or Missouri, one single loss will not change the importance of the Crimson Tide's Oct. 18-to-Nov. 15 stretch, one that will define Alabama as either an SEC championship game favorite, or a team that is fighting for its College Football Playoff life. Alabama football schedule 2025 Alabama at Florida State; Aug. 30, 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida Alabama vs Louisiana Monroe; Sept. 6, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 6:45 p.m., SEC Network Alabama vs. Wisconsin; Sept. 13, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 11 a.m., ABC or ESPN Alabama at Georgia; Sept. 27, Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia Alabama vs. Vanderbilt; Oct. 4, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama at Missouri; Oct. 11, Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri Alabama vs. Tennessee; Oct. 18, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama at South Carolina; Oct. 25, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina Alabama vs. LSU; Nov. 8, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama vs. Oklahoma; Nov. 15, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama vs. Eastern Illinois; Nov. 22, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama Alabama at Auburn; Nov. 29, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football path to SEC championship according to ESPN FPI metrics
Associated Press
21 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season indicating otherwise. Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers' 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he's 'kind of through with' returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers' organized team activities. 'Of course, I'm open to it,' Nixon said. 'I'm always going to do what the team needs.' Nixon's reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that 'I want to be CB1' and added that 'CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.' 'That's a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,' Nixon said Tuesday. 'I meant what I said, but I'm also a team player. And if the coach and the team need me to do something, I'm going to do it, for sure.' Nixon also wasn't happy with the impact of the dynamic kickoff format that took effect last season. Nixon averaged 29.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season and fumbled the opening kickoff of that playoff loss. He had 35 kickoff returns in 2022 and 30 in 2023. NFL owners voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 this season, but Nixon has doubts about whether that will lead to more returns. He believes teams still won't want to risk the possibility that he makes a big play. 'The rule change don't matter,' Nixon said. 'I don't think they'll fully kick me the ball. They'd rather (us) get it at the 35 than give it at the 50.' The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who has 45 career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay drafted – Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third – had experience returning kicks in college. Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year. His role expanded when two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander played just seven games because of injuries to his knee, quadriceps and groin. Alexander remains on Green Bay's roster, but isn't present for organized team activities as his future with the team remains uncertain. 'I love to play with Jaire,' Nixon said. 'That's just what it is since I've been here. Jaire pushed me to be really who I am because it's always friendly competition between me and him. Whatever happens, happens. We don't have control over that. If he's here, we're going to rock out. If he's not, we're still going to rock out.' Whether or not Alexander plays for the Packers this season, Nixon figures to have major responsibilities on defense again. After most of his previous defensive snaps came as a nickel, Nixon showed an ability to adapt to a new assignment last year. 'To his credit, he's shown a lot of versatility, you know, in terms of how we've used him in the past, switching him from inside to outside,' coach Matt LaFleur said. 'I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.' The 27-year-old Nixon believes he still has plenty of room to grow as he enters his seventh NFL season since he played so little defense early in his career. Nixon started his career with Oakland in 2019 and never played more than 15% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in any of his three seasons with them before joining the Packers in 2022. He played 94.1% of Green Bay's defensive snaps last season. 'I don't feel like I'm an old guy yet,' Nixon said. 'I'm in year seven, but my body feels like I'm on year four. Because with the Raiders, I don't feel like I was really on the team, for real. I was just making money, I guess. It's just what it was. When I got here, I feel like I was a rookie.' NOTES: DL Kenny Clark said he underwent surgery on his right foot after the season as he dealt with bunions and bone spurs. Clark, who has been limited in OTAs, says he injured the foot during the Packers' season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. … DL Lukas Van Ness said he wore a full cast up until 'about week 10 or 11' while playing with a broken right thumb last year. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football TE Landscape: If you're not taking one of the Big 3, you're better off waiting come draft day
Drafting Brock Bowers, Trey McBride or George Kittle is a 100% viable strategy this fantasy football season. All three can separate from the rest of the tight ends and have upside to match the production of wide receivers taken in the same range. Bowers in particular looks like a truly special talent who's in a much-improved situation. But if you miss out on one of the Big 3 TEs this season, waiting until the end of drafts (or playing the waiver wire game) looks like a shrewd move. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] I'm not here to argue tight end is deep. It has always been and remains fantasy's thinnest position. However, there are many intriguing options who are available late (or don't get taken) in fantasy drafts, and a handful of them have a good chance of becoming fantasy starters at some point this season. Advertisement Here are a dozen fliers who are all ranked outside the top 14 tight ends according to 'expert consensus ranks.' Hunter Henry, New England Patriots Henry saw the third-highest TE target share (behind only Bowers and McBride) against man coverage last season, which is one of the more predictive stats for future tight end fantasy points. Drake Maye is ready to make the leap in Year 2, and New England pass-catchers remain wide open with Stefon Diggs' status in question. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts Warren just broke the power conference record for yardage in a single season by 400 yards (besting Bowers). He has top 15 draft capital and plays indoors in a Shane Steichen system (with Daniel Jones looking increasingly likely to be the QB). Warren is unlikely to repeat the recent success by rookie tight ends Bowers and Sam LaPorta, but there's a good chance he's starting in fantasy lineups during championship weeks. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears Loveland is the only tight end ever to record a 34%+ college target share, and he owns top 10 draft capital. New Bears coach Ben Johnson helped LaPorta finish as fantasy's TE1 as a rookie. Loveland will require patience, but he has upside to be a fantasy difference maker down the stretch. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens Likely ranked eighth in fantasy points per target among TEs last season, and he has top-three upside should Mark Andrews get injured or be traded. Likely ranked first among TEs in percentage of team receiving TDs when on the field last year, and he tied with Bowers for second in percentage of team receiving yards. Fantasy managers just need Likely to have a bigger role. John Harbaugh says his goal is to make Likely an All-Pro, so he might get that chance in 2025. Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals Gesicki averaged 11.2 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) in games without Tee Higgins last year, which would've ranked behind only Bowers, McBride and Kittle for the season. The Bengals are the most aggressive throwing team in the NFL. Chig Onkonkwo, Tennessee Titans Okonkwo was the TE6 during the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15-17) last year despite not scoring a touchdown, when he averaged 9.3 targets per game. He's been held back by Will Levis, but Okonkwo now gets the No. 1 overall pick throwing him passes on an offense thin at wide receiver. Advertisement [2025 Fantasy Draft Rankings: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers] Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers Sanders flashed as a rookie before suffering a neck injury that sent him to the hospital and limited his playing time over the rest of the season. He could easily emerge as a big part of a vastly improved Carolina offense led by a resurgent Bryce Young. Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars Strange got a huge fantasy boost with Evan Engram moving on to Denver. Engram owned the third-highest target share (25.1%) among tight ends last season, and Strange will have a much bigger role in an improved Liam Coen offense in 2025. Strange started over a 21-year-old Warren at Penn State and ranked top five in missed tackles/reception among tight ends last season. Strange has top 12 fantasy TE upside, but he's been drafted in just 4% of Yahoo leagues. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns Fannin Jr. lasted until Round 3 of the NFL Draft, but he posted the No. 1 adjusted production score in the history of Dwain McFarland's Rookie Super Model. There's concern over his mediocre testing as well as his awkward running gait, but Fannin led all college pass-catchers in receiving yards last season, when he also recorded the most receptions and yards ever by a tight end. Fannin's production was undeniable, and the Browns could use his unique skill set right away. Fannin will be available on all waiver wires if early drafting is any indication. Mason Taylor, New York Jets The Jets' pass-catchers are as thin as it gets outside of Garrett Wilson, so Taylor could emerge as New York's WR2. Tight end Cole Kmet has put up big fantasy stats in the past with Justin Fields. Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams Sean McVay has finally found his athletic tight end. Ferguson will require patience in fantasy leagues, but he's an obvious candidate to become a major waiver add over the second half of the season. Theo Johnson, New York Giants Johnson sports elite workout metrics and enters Year 2 atop the Giants' tight end depth chart. New York is incredibly thin at pass-catcher outside of Malik Nabers, and the Giants vastly improved their QB room during the offseason. Johnson is yet another tight end fantasy sleeper who's going undrafted. Advertisement It doesn't end there, as more candidates include Kyle Pitts (this is the year!), Pat Freiermuth, Zach Ertz, Cade Otton, Dalton Schultz, Cole Kmet, Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill, Elijah Arroyo, Oronde Gadsden II and Ben Sinnott. Clearly, there are numerous cheap if not outright free tight ends in drafts who could emerge as fantasy starters this season. Given this tight end landscape and quarterback being deeper than ever, fantasy managers have a terrific opportunity to load up early on running backs and wide receivers — the two most important positions when it comes to uncovering 'league-winners.'
