The 2025 NFL Draft was full of dramatic storylines — none bigger than Shedeur Sanders’ historic slide to the fifth round. But Sanders wasn’t the only quarterback whose draft stock took an unexpected hit.
Quinn Ewers, once a highly touted prospect dating back to his high school days, fell all the way to the seventh round after a disappointing final season at Texas. The drop was a significant shift from where he was once projected, and Ewers opened up about the emotional toll of the experience and how he’s processing it and moving forward.
Quinn Ewers Speaks About His Fall to the Seventh Round in the Draft
Playing in the NFL is the dream for nearly every football player, from high school to college. For Ewers, that dream came with enormous expectations — long before he reached the college level. He was seen as a future top draft prospect throughout high school, and that hype followed him into his college career.
Ranked as a five-star recruit out of high school, Ewers began his college journey at Ohio State before transferring to Texas, where he became a high-profile figure in college football. However, his final season failed to live up to expectations. Once projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick, Ewers saw his draft stock plummet, eventually falling all the way to the seventh round.
In an interview with ESPN, Ewers opened up about what was going through his mind during the NFL Draft and how he handled the emotional rollercoaster of sliding all the way to the seventh round, where the Miami Dolphins finally selected him.
“I just didn’t know what was going on,” Ewers told ESPN two days after the draft. “But, I mean, it was nice [to get drafted], because at one point I’m like, ‘I’m not even going to get drafted. I’m going to go undrafted.'” In total, 14 quarterbacks were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Ewers was the last of them.
About his fall, Ewers said: “It was very unexpected, and I think that the toughest part about it is just the amount of unexpected occurrences there were. But I’m glad that I ended up where I ended up. To go as late as I did, I’m glad it’s a good spot.”
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Despite being the last quarterback selected in the draft, Ewers is keeping his head held high. Plenty of successful players started out like him, such as Brock Purdy, who was also the final quarterback chosen in his class, and Tom Brady, who also fell in the Draft.
“It’s definitely a lot of motivation that comes with it, especially just being the last [quarterback] drafted,” Ewers said. “I still have the high expectations for myself, but just from the outside looking in, this is the first time in my life to not have that much expectation. There’s definitely motivation and fuel. A lot of it.”
Ewers could have stayed one more year in college and potentially improved his draft stock with a stronger season, though the presence of Arch Manning at Texas certainly added pressure.
When asked if he regrets not staying in school, Ewers addressed the question: “I wanted to continue on my career path, and I know I’m ready for the NFL. I think my game fits the NFL better than it does in college, honestly. I’m ready for the next step.”
While it’s far from an easy situation, many athletes grow mentally from the kind of reality check Ewers just experienced. Although he didn’t expect to fall this far in the draft, he’ll now have the chance to compete for a spot in the NFL and learn from Tua Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel.