Not long ago, Quinn Ewers was one of the most highly touted high school quarterbacks in the country, arriving on the college scene with sky-high expectations.
From his early days at Ohio State to his transfer and rise as the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, Ewers’ path seemed destined for NFL stardom.
A future as a first-round draft pick wasn’t just expected – it seemed inevitable.
But now, with the NFL Draft approaching, Ewers finds himself facing real uncertainty. The once-assumed dream of being a top selection has likely faded.
If any team were to take him on the opening night of the draft, it would certainly be scrutinized. (Not that that matters one bit.)
Instead, the expectation is that Ewers will hear his name called on Day 2, during the second or third round. The question remains: which team will take a chance on the polarizing Texas native?
Notably, Ewers’ Texas Pro Day is today – and judging by the teams most closely tracking him, we may be able to connect the dots.
“The plan is for him (Ewers) to meet with the Jets and Las Vegas Raiders today (Monday) and have dinner with the New Orleans Saints brass tonight, with all three teams expected to send big crews to Austin,” The MMQB’s Albert Breer revealed.
“He already has 30 visits set up with the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Raiders for early April.”
He also has a crucial visit set up with the Pittsburgh Steelers…
Both the Jets and Raiders, despite acquiring Justin Fields and Geno Smith respectively, have been linked to quarterbacks like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders in the first round.
If they decide to address other needs early, they could look to add a talented quarterback like Ewers later in the draft.
The Colts and Saints seem like more natural fits. Indianapolis recently brought in Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson, but there’s no long-term commitment there.
Meanwhile, the Saints, despite their financial investment in Derek Carr, don’t view the 33-year-old as their future at the position.
Perhaps the biggest surprise among Ewers’ suitors is the Dallas Cowboys. While Dak Prescott remains the starter, frustration over his performance has been a near-constant theme in Dallas.
Given that Ewers is a local prospect, it wouldn’t be shocking to learn that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones – who famously considered drafting Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel years ago – sees a similar appeal in Ewers.
With his Pro Day upon us, teams will soon get another close look at Ewers. Whether that solidifies his place in the second round or raises more questions remains to be seen.
On a personal note, I think Ewers is the most underrated quarterback in the entire draft. He played through a ton of injuries at Texas. Those injuries, along with Steve Sarkisian’s system, helped hold back the “WOW” factor from Ewers on Saturdays.
He’s tough as nails, has all the intangibles, and is as pro-ready as it gets mentally… We’ll see which teams value those traits.
What are your thoughts on the interest in Ewers? … Can you see the Cowboys – or possibly the Raiders or Saints – grabbing him in the second round???
