The NFL Draft often brings with it uncertainty, and it seems that’s true for former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, according to his agent, Ron Slavin.
Leading up to the three-day event, many anticipated Ewers would be selected among the top 32 picks—maybe even within the first two rounds. Instead, he ended up being the 13th quarterback drafted, chosen at No. 231 in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins.
In an effort to understand the reason behind Ewers’ significant drop, Slavin reached out to “half of the league” after the draft, as he shared with ESPN.
The feedback? He jokingly referred to it as “The Chicken.”
According to Slavin, some teams thought Ewers should have been a higher pick, but his prominent status meant they doubted he would be content as a backup. “I think I’m a chicken,” he stated.
This situation, he pointed out, highlights some of the complexities in the NIL era of college football, where reputations can play a big role in decisions.
Ewers, once a highly ranked high school recruit and seventh among quarterback prospects by ESPN, faced pressure about his career trajectory. After Texas fell in the college playoffs, he took a few days to decide whether to transfer or enter the draft. Choosing the latter, he walked away from an $8 million potential NIL deal, especially as Texas transitioned with the arrival of Arch Manning.
He has worked with notable brands like Wrangler, EA Sports, Hulu, Beats by Dre, and Dr. Pepper.
The expected salary for his NFL rookie season is around $4.33 million, which is significantly less than the opportunities he passed up.
Once seen as a top candidate for the 2024 draft, Ewers opted to return for his junior season, where he threw for 3,472 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Now in Miami, he’s behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson, who was the backup last season after a stint with the Broncos. Tagovailoa has a contract that guarantees his salary for two more years.
