Quinn Ewers’ college career has been a turbulent experience, to say the least. It’s seen more twists and turns than the Oppenheimer movie—a lackluster start against Georgia, a string of turnovers, and injuries. Then, Arch Manning stole the show, and fans were practically petitioning for him to start. A prominent Fox Sports reporter even issued an ultimatum! But hey, don’t count Ewers out just yet. There’s still a glimmer of hope for this once-hyped quarterback.

Now, with big powers come big responsibilities. As Quinn Ewers makes the switch to the NFL, there is a chance that he might see a hit in his draft prospects compared to other QBs like Jalen Milroe or Cam Ward. But SEC insider Cousin Shane thinks Ewers will have a long-running NFL career. “I just feel like Ewers is one of those guys that’s going to be in the league for, you know, 14 years,” he said. Yes, this season he did have inconsistencies, but we can also not ignore his past records.

Well, he’s the same guy who was among the most elite quarterbacks in college football for the past few years. This led to high expectations when he joined Texas in 2021. Quinn Ewers did have some doubts after committing to Texas, as he briefly considered going to Ohio State. However, he ultimately returned home and never looked back. With his outstanding performances and immense talent, Ewers won the 2023 Big 12 Championship MVP title and even graced the cover of EA Sports College Football 25.

But unluckily, his image and stats were impacted by the dreaded injury bug. These setbacks were the main reason why Ewers, who was once seen as a top draft prospect, is now ranked as the 4th or 5th-best quarterback in his class and facing the possibility of being selected on Day 2. His high ankle sprain and oblique injury played a significant role in his decline in the draft rankings.

So, is this an isolated incident, or does it reveal a troubling pattern for this soon-to-be NFL rookie? Fox Sports analyst RJ Young didn’t hold back, cautioning NFL executives about taking a risk on the former college football superstar. ”He takes Quinn Ewers, who can’t play an entire season healthy, and a really decent to good wide receiving core, depending on how you want to look at this year vs. last year,” said RJ Young, throwing shade at Steve Sarkisian for his excessive loyalty to his QB 1 while bringing one major issue in Ewers’s resume to the surface.

A lot of veterans have expressed their desire to see Ewers return to college for another year, as they don’t see him as exceptional as other A-listers like Cam Ward. The context of his injuries raises valid concerns. Ewers has exceptional arm strength and superior mobility compared to others, but his injuries have hindered his ability to move within the pocket. What’s worse, the criticisms haven’t let up.

Quinn Ewers’ NFL future looks blurry

It’s pretty much clear that Quinn Ewers is heading to the pro league as he entered the NFL Draft. However, unlike other quarterbacks, his decision to enter the draft has sparked a lot of debate. And why is that? It’s because fans and analysts argue that Ewers should have entered the transfer portal instead. And honestly, it’s hard to disagree. While the Longhorns made the playoffs, Ewers’ performance in 2024 didn’t exactly impress.

Moreover, even Todd McShay doesn’t buy Ewers’ decision. But why?

McShay points out that Ewers played through injuries all season, which clearly impacted his performance. Still, Todd remains pessimistic, calling the draft scene for Ewers “barren.” And he also reaches out to NFL teams for their take, but even their response stays the same. “I talked to NFL teams and [I’ve gotten] solicited and unsolicited [advice],” said Todd McShay on his namesake show/podcast. “When I’m talking to guys in the league, [by a] landslide [the response is] ‘He needs to grad transfer.” That’s definitely not something Ewers is looking forward to.

Well, it’s not like Quinn Ewers didn’t have the chance to make a solid move to another school as a transfer. This guy turned down an $8 million NIL offer from an anonymous team. If you think the NFL’s flashy lights motivated him, you’re mistaken; his actions stemmed from his devotion to the Longhorns.“Texas was the only place he wanted to play college football,” Riley Dodge, Ewers’ high school coach at Southlake Carroll, told Horns247.

With a major career move imminent, let’s see if Quinn Ewers can validate Cousin Shane’s prediction or not.