Report: Quinn Ewers plans to enter NFL Draft, Arch Manning to start in 2025

A new report says Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers plans to declare for NFL Draft after 2024 season is over, Arch Manning to start for Texas in 2025.

Over the past few weeks we’ve heard rumors about Quinn Ewers declaring for the NFL Draft. There have also been rumors that Ewers would transfer at the end of this season.

With both reports out there for a couple weeks, there seems to be confusion in Ewers camp about what to do after the season is over. The junior QB’s up and down play this season could be the major culprit.

Ewers looked outstanding through the first two and a half games of the season. Especially in the Michigan game, where he shredded the vaunted Wolverines defense in Ann Arbor.

But the Southlake product hasn’t looked the same since his oblique injury against UTSA in Week 3. Ewers was out two games and then possibly rushed back for the Oklahoma game. Quinn didn’t look great against Oklahoma, but did enough in the second half to secure the win over the hapless Sooners.

The next game against Georgia was Ewers worst game of the year. It was followed by a two interception performance against Vanderbilt that Texas barely won. Ewers started playing better, but then got a high-ankle sprain against Kentucky and has struggled at times since.

It’s all led to the uncertainty about Ewers future.

A new report from Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods.com suggests Ewers still has plans to try for the NFL. On Twitter, Richardson says, “Sources say Quinn Ewers still plans to declare for the NFL Draft after this season, paving the way for Arch Manning to take over in 2025. Manning is locked in with Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian, with no plans to transfer. Right now, both are dialed in on Clemson.”

In fact, NFL agent Luke McMurtrey refutes the transfer rumors on Twitter calling them “Fake News.” McMurtrey is with Sportstars Inc. and part of Ewers’ team.

McMurtrey was responding to a Tweet by NFL Rookie Watch, who said in another Tweet, “Quinn Ewers reportedly ‘has a deal on the table’ from a team in the Big 10 for $4 million to transfer next season and forgo the NFL Draft. Ewers is reportedly debating on transferring and staying in college for another season or entering the draft. Several NFL scouts reportedly have Ewers ranked “outside” of their Top-4 QB’s in this year’s draft.”

If you try to boil it all down, it sounds like this is what’s actually going on. Ewers’ camp isn’t sure where he’ll be drafted. They probably have a target in mind, similar to that report about wanting to be in the top four quarterbacks in the draft.

If Ewers NFL Draft feedback isn’t what they want, they will explore transferring and make a few million of NIL money next season before trying for the NFL after 2025.

The problem with that plan is how it impacts Texas. It seems, behind the scenes, the Texas staff are going to go with Arch Manning in 2025 regardless. I’m sure Ewers knows this and probably had an indication from the staff before the year even started that they it was Ewers team in 2024 and then move on to Arch. It’s logical that promises have been made to the Manning camp, which has been a big reason Arch has not considered transferring.

So what will happen is Ewers and Texas will play out the season. If Texas makes a deep run in the college football playoffs and Quinn plays well, the NFL Draft will probably await him. If he plays poorly and Texas is bounced early against either Clemson or Arizona State, Ewers will consider transferring to play another year of college football.

Either way, it seems the Longhorns are set to name Manning the starter in 2025.