Weeks after stringing together some impressive playoff performances for the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford’s future with the team is up in the air. Whispers of his retirement have circulated in the NFL, but even if Stafford does return for the 2025 season, there are rumblings that the Rams may move on from the Super Bowl-winning signal-caller.
The Rams could look for a replacement in the 2025 NFL Draft, and one analyst predicts they will draft Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers to develop him into a franchise quarterback.
Rams Projected To Draft Quinn Ewers in 2025 NFL Draft
Stafford finished the regular season with his second-worst full-season QB+ since 2019. His worst two seasons by QB+ have come in the last three years, raising questions about whether his career is almost at an end.
That’s why PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft by Ben Rolfe projects the Rams to pick Ewers at No. 100 on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Whatever happens this offseason, the Rams need to be thinking about their future at quarterback. Whether it is Matthew Stafford or Jimmy Garoppolo, there needs to be someone to develop other than Stetson Bennett.
“Quinn Ewers was once viewed as a potential first-round pick, so he certainly has the pedigree to be a future NFL starter. He commands the field with exceptional arm talent and the ability to dissect defenses under any conditions. He thrives under pressure and attacks every level of the field. Unfortunately, injury concerns and boundary consistency have capped his upside, but there is certainly room for growth if he can stay healthy.”
Ewers registered an impressive 3,472 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 touchdowns in the 14 games he played in 2024 for Texas. His best game was a 333-yard, five-touchdown performance against the Florida Gators, leading Texas to a 49-17 win.
In his first season as the starter in 2022, he threw for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He improved the following year, registering 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing 69% of his passes.
Breaking: Quinn Ewers is declaring for the NFL draft, his agent told @PeteThamel.
He leaves Texas with two CFP appearances and a 21-5 record as the Longhorns' starting QB the last two seasons. pic.twitter.com/zCD64jgrdt
— ESPN (@espn) January 15, 2025
Ewers’ Scouting Report
Here’s a look at PFSN’s scouting report on Ewers:
“Ewers has a well-documented five-star pedigree, and his elite composite arm talent has drawn the awe of onlookers for years on end. But that ranking has also contributed to lots of residual hype in his draft-eligible phase — and in truth, he has more work to do.
“Ewers’ arm elasticity is special, and it allows him to remain a passing threat from virtually any platform. He has more than enough strength to pair with that angle freedom, and while he’s not overly explosive or fast, he is quick enough to be a modest creative presence.
“Going further, the high-end flashes of execution where Ewers is able to channel these tools are very impressive. He can layer pace and touch beautifully on vertical and seam throws, and he does flash the ability to recognize opportunities pre-snap and capitalize.
“Unfortunately, at this moment in his career, Ewers’ execution is still very inconsistent on a down-to-down basis, and much of it stems from his mechanics. While he’s fluid and flexible as a thrower, he also has a frustratingly lax, free-styling mechanical nature that can run counter to optimal timing and alignment. While Ewers’ arm elasticity can correct imperfect mechanics to a degree, his accuracy to all thirds can be inconsistent because of his lacking base discipline.
“Additionally, as a processor, his progression work and anticipation also require more consistency. Because he’s not an elite athlete or creative threat, Ewers needs to refine his operational game and learn to play with more mechanical control and intent.”
Ewers would be a high-upside bet for the Rams if they trade Stafford, which is very likely given that he is carrying a $49.6 million cap hit for 2025. But even if Stafford stays for one more year, Ewers has the potential to become a franchise quarterback for the Rams, if he stays healthy and develops his game.