NFL QB sends strong message after losing NIL millions

When Quinn Ewers heard his name called with the 231st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, critics didn’t hesitate to pile on. He had reportedly turned down an $8 million NIL offer to transfer out of Texas. Instead, he opted for the NFL, where seventh-round picks aren’t exactly showered with signing bonuses.

But Ewers didn’t flinch. And now, he’s finding ways to flip the script.

The Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback just inked a $3 million exclusive trading card deal with Panini America, a move that immediately softens the blow of his rookie contract—worth $4.3 million over four years, with only $84,000 in base salary his first season. It’s a reminder that the power of a name doesn’t vanish after a player leaves college.

“Skipping my senior year to enroll at Ohio State early… then decide to go back to my home state of Texas, and really, turn around a program that hadn’t really won anything in years, consistently—that’s unconventional,” Ewers told On3.

Unconventional is putting it lightly.

After throwing for 9,218 yards and 68 touchdowns at Texas, Ewers left with a $4.5 million NIL valuation, and speculation swirled that Miami and Duke were among teams willing to offer him up to $4 million to transfer. Had he stayed, sources say his NIL payout could have reached $8 million in 2025.