No sunshine and rainbows for Quinn Ewers. Not everyone is buying the NFL draft stock of this mullet star, and the reason? His three years at Texas. Every single season was marred by injuries and missed plays. Between injuries, inconsistency, and now Arch Manning lurking like he was always meant to take his place, the path’s been anything but smooth. But not everyone is throwing dirt on his draft stock. One guy, in particular, is standing tall for his QB — and that’s Matthew Golden.

You see, Matthew Golden isn’t just another former teammate running his mouth. This guy is legit — clocked a 4.29 at the NFL Combine and is projected as a first-round pick. When Rich Eisen asked him what he wants the world to know about his former QB in an episode on The Rich Eisen Show on April 23, he didn’t flinch. “Definitely a dawg, a leader on and off the field,” he said. “Someone you could trust, someone you know what you’re gonna get out of him each day. Me and Quinn built a relationship. When I first got to Austin, he took me out, we went to a barbecue spot. I just got to know him on and off the field.” It isn’t just about routes and timing — it was a real connection that you don’t get from every QB. It’s the connection made on and off the field.

While the media is debating if Quinn Ewers is even worth a Day 2 pick, the guys who lined up with him are still riding with him. “I feel like any team that gets him, you’re getting a very talented quarterback,” Matthew Golden added. “For me I would say – just me being biased – I’m gonna say he’s the best quarterback because I watched him and I played with him, practices with him everyday. The way he throw the ball is just different, but you getting somebody you could depend on each day.” Now that’s true. It does take superhuman training and leadership to rack up 3,472 yards and 31 tuddies in 2024. But not everyone is impressed.

Some blame the QB for the poor tapes of his WRs, Golden and Isaiah Bond. Ex-Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith Jr. scorched Quinn Ewers via Attack! On Cowboys on April 10. “I will say the biggest issue with Texas when watching the receivers is I saw lot of times, the quarterback was off-target, sometimes late,” he fired. “And he resisted the opportunity to throw the deep ball when guys were open.” Not exactly ringing endorsements. And the Arch Manning conversation is only pulling him down. 

Quinn Ewers thrown in the shadow of Arch Manning

NFL scouts are already comparing the ball velocity and energy between Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. And the senior isn’t coming out ahead. “There’s just no juice in his body,” an anonymous NFC assistant coach told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “He’s little. Arm strength lacks. Athleticism lacks. I don’t really know the upside of that kid. When you put their film on and Manning comes in the game, the ball is just jumping off his hand in comparison.” Of course, that’s a harsh pill to swallow. But that’s the kind of honesty that gets whispered around during drafts. 

Another AFC scouting director called him an “average” guy. But he did voice his admiration for the resilience that Quinn Ewers brought to the game. “You can’t discredit his ability to overcome adversity. Arch Manning on his heels. We want to see guys that can handle pressure and fight through tough times, and his did that… But the rest is kind of average.” That’s the split right now. 

But you see, Quinn Ewers threw for 9,128 yards and 68 TDs in total and won a Big 12 Championship. Texas went 27-9 with him under center. But it’s the eye test that’s splitting the room. Some see a poised, efficient leader. Others see a low-ceiling guy getting outshone by the future. But at this point, the 22-year-old is going to have a lot to prove.