Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers is coming off a standout collegiate season, finishing with 293 completions on 445 attempts for 3,472 yards. He led the SEC with 31 touchdown passes while also recording 12 interceptions and a 149 passing efficiency rating.
Despite his strong stats, Ewers may not be drafted early, as Pro Football Focus ranks him as the No. 8 quarterback and the 142nd overall prospect.
However, in ESPN’s mock draft, Matt Miller projects Ewers to be selected much earlier, predicting the New Orleans Saints will take him with the No. 40 pick as a potential successor to Derek Carr.
“Ewers has had injury concerns, but he guided the Longhorns to consecutive College Football Playoff semifinals,” Miller wrote. “He’s a precise, timing-based passer who would suit new coach Kellen Moore’s system. While he lacks mobility and needs to process the field more quickly, his arm talent and mechanics align with the potential of an NFL starter.”
Ewers isn’t expected to start right away, as Carr is heading into the third year of his four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season.
If this scenario plays out, Ewers could spend two seasons developing on the bench behind a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback with 11 years of NFL experience.
The Saints aren’t in urgent need of a quarterback change, as Carr has been reliable over the past two seasons, starting 27 games and completing 564 of 827 passes for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
