Quinn Ewers left double his NFL salary on the table by opting for NFL dreams
Former Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers opted to pursue his NFL ambitions, forgoing potentially record-setting name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals that could have netted him millions had he chosen to remain in college football for another season.
Ewers, once projected as a first-round pick, was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 231st overall pick in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. His rookie contract is estimated to be worth $4.33 million over four years-an amount that, according to multiple reports, is less than what he could have earned in a single year through NIL opportunities had he transferred to another program for his final year of eligibility.
During Texas's run to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, speculation swirled about Ewers' future. With the Longhorns preparing to hand the starting job to redshirt sophomore Arch Manning, Ewers faced a pivotal decision: transfer to another powerhouse program and cash in on NIL deals reportedly worth up to $8 million, or declare for the NFL Draft and begin his professional career.
Ewers ultimately chose the latter, citing his desire to play only for Texas at the collegiate level and expressing no regrets about his decision. 'I didn't want to play for another school besides Texas,' Ewers said before the draft. 'I'm happy I went through the adversity I did during the end of my college career.'
The decision has sparked debate across the college football landscape. Industry insiders and analysts have pointed out that Ewers left millions on the table by passing on the transfer portal and NIL deals, especially given his status as one of the highest-valued athletes in college sports.
Ewers' college career, though marked by injuries and a late-season dip in draft stock, was highly successful. He led Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, threw for over 9,000 yards and 68 touchdowns, and helped revive the Longhorns' national prominence. Off the field, he secured numerous NIL deals, including national endorsements and a spot on the cover of EA Sports College Football, amassing significant earnings even before his NFL contract.
While some were critics, Josh Pate applauded Quinn Ewers for heading to the NFL.
His decision also starts the clock on his eligibility for a potentially more lucrative second NFL contract, should he prove himself at the professional level. Steve Sarkisian added on Monday from the Touchdown Club event in Houston that Ewers never took from the Texas NIL Collective, instead opting for his own NIL deals holistically, "He never took money from our collective. All of what he did through NIL was his true name, image, and likeness."
Utilizing the Texas NIL fund could have led to more financial gain for the Southland Carroll product, but it seems money was never the thought on Ewers mind. For Ewers it was all about playing for Texas and then living the NFL dream. That outweighed the NIL millions left behind. Ewers is all but guaranteed to receive playing time in the NFL this upcoming fall behind Miami's Tua Tagovailoa who has suffered his fair share of injuries.
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