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Is it worth it to declare for the NFL draft? This star QB could make more playing one more year in college

The Texas junior QB started an interesting public debate after he rejected alleged lucrative NIL deals to be on the NFL Draft for potentially less money.

Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) passes the ball during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome MironUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Quinn Ewers was all the talk in the past week around US sports media, interestingly not for his early exit from the College Football playoffs after losing against Ohio State 14-28 in the Cotton Bowl game, but for his decision that turned some eyes in the financial advisors’ world. Well, his decision, announced on his social media, was to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft amid rumors of a $6 million NIL package.

Non-lucrative decisions like this are rare in today’s world of (well) paid college athletes, especially if the rumor is correct because the NIL rumors and contracts are still very difficult to fact-check. The sum of 6 million dollars for one more year to stay in College sports is almost unbelievable, considering that it tops more than a few of the NFL starting quarterbacks that play in the League now. This is not just the case with Ewers, a fine group of NCAA quarterbacks who find themselves in better financial positions than their NFL counterparts.

Why did Ewers choose a pro-career instead of money and education?

These and other questions surround whether Ewers should return to college—at Texas or another school—or enter the professional ranks after leading the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff for the second season in a row, filed the articles’ passages in the previous weeks and many had their take on the young quarterback’s decision.

Ewers passed for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns in his career, unmatched by most Texas quarterbacks. Before the season ended, he hinted it might be his last in college. With 27 career wins, he ranks fourth among Texas starting quarterbacks and led the Longhorns to their first Big 12 title in 14 years in 2023 before moving to the SEC. In their first SEC season, they achieved their first No. 1 ranking since 2008 and played in the league championship game.

The San Antonio-born quarterback’s legacy includes leading the program to the playoff semifinals in consecutive years, though they fell short of the championship game. On Jan. 10, he fumbled on a sack, which allowed Ohio State to score the game-clinching touchdown in the Cotton Bowl.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) causes a fumble by Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) then returns the ball for a touchdown.
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Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) causes a fumble by Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) then returns the ball for a touchdown.Tim HeitmanUSA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

But everybody knew, especially Ewers, that he always had Archie Manning lurking behind his shoulder. Even now, as he is ending his Longhorns career, during which he led the program to a Big 12 championship and twice to the College Football Playoff, he knows very well that he was not embraced by the fan base eagerly waiting for the Manning football royalty member to take over. Cooper Manning’s son, Archie Manning’s grandson, and Peyton and Eli Manning’s nephew passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns, with four rushing TDs this season, all that with limited playing time.

So, with the uncertainty he will be drafted as a high pick in the next class of pro players, Ewers, who was not the brightest looking at his numbers this season, with a career-high 31 touchdowns but also doubling his interceptions from six to 12, and struggling with injuries and ineffectiveness at times, nevertheless choose to gamble on his future career.

The first-draft predictions ranked him as the number-five quarterback prospect. They suggested he might be in the second group of signal-callers behind projected top-five picks Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) and Cam Ward (Miami).

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