As fourteen Longhorns gear up to shine at the 2025 NFL Combine, all eyes are on one man: Quinn Ewers. The young quarterback’s draft journey is shaping up to be a turbulent ride—he has the raw talent that teams drool over, but his injury history and choppy plays have raised plenty of eyebrows. Ewers’ season has been as thrilling as it’s been nerve-wracking, making his draft decision both a golden opportunity and a high-stakes gamble. With every drill and interview, the big question is: Will an NFL franchise bet on his potential or shy away from the risk?

Ewers’ college career at Texas has been wild as he took heat all season for nearly letting a few close games slip away, and critics didn’t hesitate to point out his struggles. An oblique injury early in the season sidelined him for a couple of games, and a minor ankle ailment against Kentucky added another layer of uncertainty. These setbacks, combined with his inconsistent performances, have sparked doubts among scouts and fans alike. Yet, his raw talent is impossible to ignore—his arm strength, mobility, and football IQ set him apart as a true playmaker.

Despite doubts surrounding him, Ewers managed to lead Texas to a 13-3 season and another College Football Playoff run, showcasing his ability to rally his team when it matters most. In a league dominated by quarterbacks, his decision to enter the NFL draft—after reportedly turning down an $8 million offer to transfer—speaks a lot about his belief in himself and his readiness for the next challenge.

As per Las Vegas Raiders Insider’s host, Hondo Carpenter, on YouTube, “They’ve got Ewers as a fifth-round guy. Okay, a couple of them even had him a little lower. A couple had him in the four. So we’ll just say five. Say fifth, but this is kind of where they think his value is. But all of them expect him to go before that.”

That kind of mixed projection shows the mystery surrounding his draft value. While some see him as a potential steal in the later rounds, the expectation is that his talent will command a higher pick—if only he can put his injury concerns to rest.

Digging into his strengths, Carpenter didn’t hold back. “Let’s talk about his positives. First of all, he’s a shortstop-type player. Now, it doesn’t mean his form is bad, but under pressure, he could throw the ball sidearm and do some underhanded, meaning he’s versatile. Another thing about him is that he’s a pure passer, not as good as Shedeur Sanders, who many believe is the best pure passer in this draft, but he still is a pure passer.”

In other words, Ewers has a cannon for an arm and a knack for short to mid-range precision. His deep throws, however, can be hit-or-miss—a fact that has many analysts picturing him as a reliable backup rather than a franchise quarterback.

Yet, there’s another facet of his game that’s drawing attention: His play-action and RPO (run-pass option). “Next thing about him, that’s a real positive, is he’s probably the best RPO play-action fake quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. He just said he is so good at the RPO, he’s so good at the play action, and so good at the fakes. So those are all really good things about Quinn.” This ability to deceive defenses with his pre-snap movements could be the edge that makes him a valuable asset in an NFL offense.

Looking back at his numbers, Quinn Ewers’ time in Texas was nothing short of impressive. He guided the Longhorns to a 32-9 record, threw for 76 touchdowns, and amassed over 9,000 passing yards over three seasons—all on a 65.8 percent completion rate. His record as a starter over the last two years, standing at 21–4, is the best since Colt McCoy’s historic 25–2 run in 2008–2009. Such statistics highlight not only his on-field productivity but also his capacity to perform under pressure—a critical trait for any quarterback aiming to succeed in the NFL.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian couldn’t be more complimentary to his signal-caller. “I think what this guy has shown is this level of perseverance. That’s a hard thing to gauge in the NFL because some of these guys have it so easy throughout their time, whether it’s in high school or in college. This guy’s had to persevere. He’s been through a lot, he’s been through some injuries, and every time he shows up, he’s always played his best when his best was needed.”

In a way, Sarkisian’s words show the respect Ewers has earned in the locker room and on the field. His ability to bounce back from adversity is exactly the kind of character that NFL teams look for, even when his physical metrics raise some red flags. Yet he’s not still there when it comes to draft talks.

Will the Combine save Quinn Ewers’ NFL draft stock?

As the NFL Draft approaches and the Combine is just days away, Ewers’ draft ranking remains a topic of hot debate. Initially, he once stood atop the quarterback rankings, but his injury woes have caused his stock to tumble. The Southland native found himself seventh on ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s quarterback rankings which was released earlier last month. He trailed names like Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Will Howard, Jalen Milroe, and Kyle McCord.

However, as February progressed, and the Combine drew near, his stock began to climb again. Now, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller, Ewers holds the No. 4 spot among quarterbacks, behind only Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and Jaxson Dart. Despite this positional climb, his overall ranking across all prospects is the real shocker—he’s the first signal-caller on Miller’s list to miss the top 50 prospects entirely.

While his talent is undeniable, questions about consistency and durability linger. The Combine will be his opportunity to silence the doubters, to show that his injury issues are behind him and that he can compete at the highest level. If he delivers a standout performance, it could completely flip his narrative, making him a coveted asset in what is undoubtedly a quarterback-dominated draft carousel.

Will Quinn Ewers emerge as the breakout star that teams are willing to gamble on, or will his injury history and inconsistency prove too risky for a franchise looking for stability?