Quinn Ewers, once viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, experienced a shocking slide all the way to the 231st overall pick, where the Miami Dolphins selected him in Round 7.
The former Texas Longhorns quarterback, who entered the draft with a high ͏profile and notable college career, is now at the center of a post-draft controversy sparked by his agent.͏
Why Quinn Ewers Slid to the Final Round Despite High Expectations
Ewers, who was the No. 2 recruit out of high school and ranked No. ͏7 among quarterback prospects by ESPN, passed for 3,472 yards with a 65.8% completion rate, 31 ͏touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his final college season. Despite these stats, he ͏became the 14th and final quarterback selected in the 2025 NFL Draft (including WR/QB Tommy Mellott). His fall surprised many, including his own camp.
Agent Ron Slavin expressed strong criticism over how teams handled Ewers’ draft stock. “The day after the draft, Slavin said he reached out to ‘half the league’ to find out what happened,” reported ESPN’s Todd Archer. Slavin was told, “They thought he was a third- or fourth-round pick, but too big of a name to be a clipboard holder,” to which he responded, “Which I think is chickens***.”
NFL executives reportedly feared that Ewers’ high-profile status would draw unwanted attention if he served as a backup quarterback. Although he carried no known character concerns, his popularity and name recognition — fueled in part by high-profile NIL deals with Wrangler, EA Sports, Hulu, Beats by Dre, and Dr. Pepper — made teams wary of placing him in a reserve role.
The concern was that fans might clamor for Ewers to replace a struggling starter simply due to name value, creating a distraction. This perception, coupled with evaluations noting a lack of arm strength, limited mobility, and his injury history, contributed to his drop in the draft.
Ewers had the option to return to college, where reports indicated he could have earned up to $8 million in NIL endorsements by transferring to another powerhouse program. Instead, he entered the draft, leaving those opportunities behind. His estimated rookie salary of $4.33 million is nearly half of what he passed up by turning pro.
Now with the Dolphins, Ewers joins a quarterback room led by Tua Tagovailoa, who recently signed a $212.4 million extension, and Zach Wilson, who is on a one-year, $6 million deal. Ewers is expected to begin as the third-string quarterback, though Miami’s recent injury history at the position could eventually provide him with an opportunity.