The NFL Combine is back, and that means one thing—a bunch of future NFL stars are about to run, jump, and throw like their careers depend on it—because, well, that actually kind of does. It’s basically The Hunger Games for draft prospects—minus the life-threatening stakes, but definitely with careers on the line. And for quarterbacks? Well, this is the ultimate test. One bad throw? Twitter’s got the memes ready. One perfect deep ball? Suddenly, you’re QB1 material.

Speaking of the QB1 material, a couple of names are making loud noises and have the NFL scouts talking. Cam Ward of Miami and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado. However, in the middle of this, we’ve also got Texas’ Quinn Ewers, who’s ready to step in with something to prove. I mean, the guy had been dealing with injuries throughout the season. But, according to Tom Pelissero, the 21-year-old QB is healthy and ready to roll in the combine, with a little help from a well-known QB developer.

“I’m told that he is fully recovered now from a torn oblique that he played with, basically, this entire season, had happened in the Michigan game,” Pelissero said. “It got worse over the course of time, but he is healthy now. His weight’s up to about 200 and 15 pounds.” On top of that, Pelissero also mentioned that the young QB is working down in Texas with the ex-Cowboys HC, Mike McCarthy.

Go ahead and read it again. McCarthy’s views on Ewers? Well, according to Pelissero, “McCarthy says he’s just been really impressed with Quinn Ewers as a young man and the attentiveness that he has. They’ve been talking football for hours. McCarthy says I’m like a kid in an ice cream shop, just talking ball with Quinn Ewers.” Well, it is safe to say that Ewers’ journey hasn’t been a straight path.

The guy started his collegiate career as a top recruit at Ohio State. However, Ewers announced the following year that he was transferring to Texas to play for the Longhorns. Since then, the QB started every game that he played for the Longhorns. His track record? Well enough to catch the NFL scouts’ eyes.

The guy played 14 games in the 2024 season, having recorded 3,472 yards and racked up 31 touchdowns. So yeah, you can think why McCarthy’s impressed with the QB. Let’s see which team’s gonna pick Quinn Ewers in the 2025 NFL draft. Is Mike McCarthy’s guidance gonna give him a boost, or are those injuries still lurking in the shadows?

Where will Quinn Ewers land: Las Vegas or New York?

Here’s the deal: if a team’s gonna draft Quinn Ewers, either it’s gonna be an opportunity or a gamble. The reason’s pretty clear. The guy has potential—his arm strength, mobility, and football IQ make him a complete game-changer. BUT! We can’t just ignore the elephant in the room, and neither will the NFL scouts. The QB suffered an oblique injury early in the season, which sidelined him for a couple of games. Then came his minor ankle ailment that worked like fuel in the fire.

Now, the big question: considering his injury concerns and potential, which team is ready to take a chance on him? For starters, the Las Vegas Raiders can be one. According to Raiders Insider’s host, Hondo Carpenter, “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.”

Huh! Can we say if the injuries were not the issues, could Ewers be a first round or second-round pick? Guess we’ll never know. However, the odds favor the QB’s talent, which will command a higher pick. BUT! If the Raiders are planning to draft him in 2025, they’re gonna get tough competition from the Jets—at least, that’s what the former NFL player Matt Miller believes.

You see, Miller thinks that Ewers can be a possible option for the Jets who are looking a replacement for Aaron Rodgers. “It will be fascinating to watch Ewers’ predraft process, and a strong combine could boost him into Round 1,” wrote Miller. “The Jets need an heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers and might need that successor to start immediately. Three seasons as a starter at Texas would have Ewers ready for that task.”

Now, there are a couple of possibilities for Quinn Ewers. If the Raiders draft him, then it’s unlikely he’s gonna be the QB1. On the contrary, if the Jets draft him, well, let’s just say the guy’s gonna be their QB1—unless the team signs another veteran in 2025.