For months, the conversation around Quinn Ewers and the NFL Draft had been simmering. He was once considered a potential top-tier quarterback prospect—a gunslinger with natural arm talent and a résumé built from pressure-filled Saturdays in Austin. But when the 2025 NFL Draft came and went without his name called in the early rounds, the silence from Ewers was deafening. Until now.
In a rare and candid interview this week, Ewers broke his silence, finally opening up about the disappointment, the whispers of doubt surrounding his game, and where he goes from here.
“It was tough. I’m not going to sugarcoat that,” Ewers said. “You grow up dreaming about hearing your name on Day 1 or Day 2 of the Draft. That’s what I expected. When it didn’t happen, it hit me hard. But I’ve had time to sit with it, and I know it’s just another chapter in my story—not the ending.”
Ewers’ journey to this point has been anything but typical. After a much-hyped high school career that included a brief, headline-making stint at Ohio State, he transferred to Texas with expectations as heavy as the burnt-orange jersey on his back. The hope was that he would usher in a new era of Longhorn dominance under head coach Steve Sarkisian.
There were flashes—brilliant, undeniable flashes—of the talent that once made him the No. 1 quarterback recruit in the nation. From carving up Alabama in Tuscaloosa to leading Texas to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth, Ewers showed he could rise in the moment.
But the NFL Draft is not about moments. It’s about consistency, projection, health, and narrative. And for Ewers, that narrative took an unexpected turn over the last year.
Critics questioned his decision-making. Others wondered about his durability after missing time due to injury. Some scouts reportedly had reservations about his mechanical discipline, and whether he’d ever fully refined the raw talent that once made him a household name before he’d thrown a college pass.
“I know I’m not a perfect player. No one is,” Ewers admitted. “But I also know how far I’ve come. I’ve faced adversity, I’ve led in big games, and I’ve made plays against the best teams in the country. That’s got to mean something.”
Ewers said the moment that hit hardest wasn’t just slipping past the first round—it was watching names get called ahead of him that he never expected. Still, he kept watching.
“I sat there with my family. I kept thinking, ‘Okay, maybe next pick. Maybe the next one,’” he recalled. “You start doubting everything. But when it was over, I had a choice. I could let it define me, or I could use it.”
He’s choosing the latter.
Sources close to Ewers say he has already begun training with a chip on his shoulder. The quarterback has been in contact with multiple NFL teams interested in bringing him in for rookie minicamps and potentially signing him as a developmental piece. While many expected him to bolt for the draft after last season, Ewers shocked some by even considering another year at Texas. Ultimately, he declared—but his draft slide may have been a result of a cloudy evaluation year and a class full of more polished or prototypical options.
“I can’t control what teams thought. I can only control how I respond now,” Ewers said. “And I’m going to respond the right way.”
Some analysts suggest that Ewers’ draft stock was hurt by the unexpected rise of other quarterbacks in the class—guys with less hype but more momentum. Players like Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and J.J. McCarthy had clearer seasons, fewer injury issues, and less background noise. That’s not necessarily a knock on Ewers, but it was enough to shift the board against him.
There’s also the matter of intangibles—a word thrown around constantly by NFL scouts. Some wondered how vocal Ewers was as a leader. Others speculated whether his quiet demeanor worked against him in comparison to more demonstrative signal-callers. But for those who played with him, the story is different.
“Quinn’s a leader. Just not always the loudest guy in the room,” said Texas wideout Xavier Worthy, now with the Kansas City Chiefs. “He earned respect by how he worked. How he played hurt. How he stayed steady no matter the pressure. That’s leadership, man.”
Steve Sarkisian echoed those sentiments in a recent interview following the Draft.
“Quinn is one of the most naturally talented players I’ve ever coached,” Sarkisian said. “He’s got poise. He’s got fire. Just because he didn’t go in the first round doesn’t mean he won’t end up being the best quarterback in this class five years from now.”
It wouldn’t be the first time a quarterback fell only to rise stronger—think Tom Brady, Dak Prescott, even Brock Purdy. The NFL is littered with stories of QBs who took longer to bloom but eventually thrived once given the right opportunity. Ewers believes he can follow that path.
“I know who I am. I know what I can do,” he said. “I just need a team that believes in me. That’s it.”
In fact, his drop might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Instead of being thrust into the pressure cooker of a rebuilding franchise, Ewers could find himself in a backup role on a more stable team. The chance to learn without being rushed onto the field could serve him well.
“I’m not scared of work,” Ewers said. “Whatever team I end up on, I’m going to give everything I have. Whether I’m on the practice squad or in a QB room with veterans, I’m going to keep improving.”
What’s clear is that this draft moment, as painful as it was, may have lit a fire under the 22-year-old that could serve as the true start of his pro journey. Ewers has always had the talent—but now he has something to prove. And that’s a dangerous combination for anyone who wrote him off.
The quarterback admits the experience has changed him.
“I think I’m more motivated now than ever,” he said. “I’ve had it all. I’ve lost it. Now I’m building back. There’s freedom in that. No more pressure. Just ball.”
As rookie camps begin and minicamps loom, all eyes will now shift from Ewers the prospect to Ewers the pro. Whether he finds a roster spot or has to grind his way through preseason reps and practice squads, one thing’s certain: he’s no longer just chasing dreams—he’s hunting doubters.
“I’m going to remember every name that was called before mine,” he said with a wry smile. “And I’m going to make sure they remember mine, too.”
In the end, perhaps the fall in the Draft wasn’t a defeat—it was the wake-up call, the motivator, the necessary humbling that many greats experience before they reach the top. And if Quinn Ewers has anything to say about it, the best chapters of his football story are still waiting to be written.
