2025 NFL Draft: Quinn Ewers earns top-two QB ranking in the eyes of one CFB analyst

The 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class won’t be as celebrated as the 2024 NFL Draft QB class, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be as intriguing.  One of the reasons for that intrigue is Texas Longhorns gunslinger Quinn Ewers who will challenge Georgia’s Carson Beck and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as the top QB prospect.

As a player who could’ve entered the 2024 NFL Draft, Ewers return to Texas sets him up for what could be a huge season for the Longhorns as they enter the SEC, and a monumental season for Ewers as far as his NFL stock goes. 

Ewers, who throw for 3,479 yards with 22 passing touchdowns in 2023, won’t have the likes of Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell or Ja’Tavion Sanders to throw to this upcoming season, but his arm is one of the best in the nation and he’ll lead a new group of playmakers led by Johntay Cook, Ryan Wingo and Matthew Golden in what could be a special season for Texas.

2025 NFL Draft: Quinn Ewers has a chance to be very special

Speaking of that arm and the velocity in which he throws, ESPN CFB analyst Greg McElroy has him ranked as the No. 2 quarterback behind Beck due to what he saw in Ewers last season.

“He looked so much more comfortable last year, and because of the lost weight, I thought he was more athletic,” McElroy said of the Texas quarterback.  “His feet were better. And all those things helped him to really progress and lead Texas to their first-ever CFP berth.”

With Arch Manning waiting in the wings, the Longhorns QB will have to improve on his decision making this upcoming season to really solidify his draft stock as one of the best QB’s entering the 2025 NFL Draft.  As it stands right now, if Ewers would’ve entered a 2024 NFL Draft that saw six QB’s taken in the first round, he would’ve been perhaps a mid-round pick.  If he continues to improve, show he can torch opposing SEC defenses while showcasing more athleticism in the pocket, he could be at the very least a Day 2 pick.

That stock will be even greater if he leads the Longhorns to the CFP championship.

NFL teams who should be scouting Quinn Ewers

A couple of teams that stand out who missed out on top QB’s in the 2024 NFL Draft include the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders.  Both teams are early favorites to land either Beck or Sanders, but Ewers could fall into that group of quarterback prospects teams will be targeting in the early rounds of the draft.

While the Giants still have hope that Daniel Jones make the next leap in his career, a team like the Raiders are leaning on second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell to take advantage of his opportunity.  They also have veteran Gardner Minshew as a placeholder until the team can hopefully draft their next franchise QB.

There is also a chance a team like the New York Jets will be looking to draft a QB given the age of Aaron Rodgers.  The Jets took a gamble in the 2024 NFL Draft by drafting Jordan Travis to learn behind Rodgers, but they could add some competition to the mix in Ewers.  Obviously, things can and probably will change as the 2024 NFL schedule plays out, but for now Ewers is one of the best passers to watch as the 2025 NFL Draft starts to take focus.