The discussion around the 2025 NFL Draft is in full swing, and a lot of that discussion has been around quarterback Quinn Ewers and the No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns in recent weeks. Although Ewers entered the season as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class, his stock has fallen.
An injury limited his playing time and ability, and as a result, he has expressed uncertainty about whether he will enter the 2025 NFL Draft. This is particularly interesting when you consider the possibility of Arch Manning starting next season.
Mel Kiper Jr. Believes Arch Manning Will Start for Texas Next Season
On Thursday, ESPN’s longtime NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. appeared on the “First Draft” podcast with Mike Greenberg and Field Yates. On the show, he discussed the upcoming draft and the Texas Longhorns’ quarterback situation.
“Arch Manning is going to be the quarterback at Texas next year. So if you want to play college football, you probably have to move on somewhere,” Kiper said. “I would do that if I’m Quinn Ewers.”
“I would not come out unless I really played phenomenal football in these playoff games and came into this draft process with tremendous momentum. I don’t want to become a second- or third-round pick.”
There has been an increasing belief that, regardless of whether Quinn Ewers decides to return for his final season of NCAA eligibility next year, Manning will be the starter for the Texas Longhorns. If that is the case, it would make sense for Ewers to transfer if he does not enter the draft.
Where Does Quinn Ewers Stand Among Quarterbacks in the 2025 Draft Class?
Before the season, most experts expected Ewers to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. However, his stock has fallen significantly and he is no longer projected to be a first-round pick. Kiper ranked Ewers as his sixth-best quarterback in the 2025 class.
He only has three quarterbacks as projected first-round picks, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Miami’s Cam Ward, and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. However, he also has Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Georgia’s Carson Beck ahead of Ewers. It should be noted that Allar has informed his coaches that he will stay in college next season.
In Pro Football Network’s Dalton Miller’s most recent 2025 NFL Draft QB rankings, he had Ewers ranked ninth, excluding Allar, who was ranked ahead of Ewers.
“Ewers possesses the physical traits necessary to succeed at the NFL level,” Miller wrote. “He’s flashed some impressive performances in the College Football Playoffs and against some of the team’s toughest regular season opponents.
“However, his slight frame and three years’ worth of consistent nagging injuries cast doubt on his durability. His inconsistent-at-best deep ball has put an electronic limiter on some of the fastest football players on the planet vertically, and when he gets punched in the mouth early, it tends to show for the rest of the contest.”
If Ewers returns to college next season, he will likely do it to improve his draft stock. So, if the Longhorns decide they want Manning to start, Ewers will need to transfer. There would be no point in him staying in college just to be a backup behind a younger player.