Before Texas’ Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State, Quinn Ewers told ESPN that he intended to enter the NFL Draft. When asked if he expects to play college football next year he said, “No, I don’t.” But after the game, Ewers admitted, “Coming up short two years, it’s tough.”
Earlier this season, Ewers was trending as a first round pick in the NFL Draft. But injuries and uneven play have impacted his draft status. Now, Ewers is being projected by many as a mid round pick in April.
College football players not in the national championship game have until Wednesday to declare for the NFL draft. That means Ewers has less than 48 hours to make his decision.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel says there are questions surrounding the Southlake Carrol product’s draft grade, noting NFL scouts have widely varying opinions of where he might land in the draft. “Ewers projects as a divisive prospect in this upcoming draft, as one general manager told ESPN that he sees Ewers as a top-100 pick but admitted there’s a ‘wild variance’ within his scouting department on Ewers’ NFL projection,” Thamel reported.
Ewers time in Austin is most certainly over. Arch Manning will be the starting QB for the 2025 season. It used to be a player either returned to school at the college he played for or he entered the draft.
But as USA TODAY Sports Matt Hayes points out, there is a third option that could be the most profitable. Ewers can undoubtedly make more in NIL money by transferring to another school.
“The first quarterback selected outside the first round in the 2024 draft was Spencer Rattler, who went to the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round. That’s about where Ewers is currently slotted. Rattler signed a four-year deal with the Saints for $4.35 million, with an average salary of $1.08 million. Ewers could quadruple that $1.08 number on the open college football market — for one season of work.” — Matt Hayes, USA TODAY
Hayes points out that former Georgia QB Carson Beck reportedly got $4M in NIL money to transfer to Miami.
“If Ewers hits the college football open market, there will be multiple blue blood, deep-pocket teams bidding for him, including but not limited to Ohio State, Georgia and Southern California — all of which have the money to make Ewers an offer he can’t refuse.
And why would he?
Unless you’re a guaranteed first round pick, there’s no benefit in leaving early for the NFL. Especially if you’re an elite quarterback with CFP wins on your resume.
Even if Ewers were a second-round pick — the next best scenario — he’d still make more money in college football.” — Matt Hayes, USA TODAY
