Texas QB Quinn Ewers' ranking on Dane Brugler's top 100 big board sparks debate

It's also a big day for NFL draft fans whenever Dane Brugler of The Athletic drops updated rankings and intel from teams. He blends his evaluations with what he's hearing from NFL decision-makers and scouts. That information helps fuel a comprehensive picture of what we can expect when the 2025 NFL Draft arrives.

That's why it's especially noteworthy when there's a surprise ranking. The public has almost begrudgingly accepted that Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers would land in the top 40 picks despite dealing with injuries, inconsistent play, and not possessing an elite set of traits. But Brugler didn't follow the consensus that Ewers would go high.

In fact, Ewers was completely absent from Brugler's top-100 rankings. Five quarterbacks were ranked, including Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Jalen Milroe. Milroe's ranking at No. 61 was surprising enough, let alone Ewers' absence. This week, I had just named both Ewers and Milroe as boom-or-bust prospects.

We projected Ewers to be selected late on Day 2 in his scouting profile, and I have repeatedly questioned whether he should simply transfer from Texas instead of joining the 2025 NFL Draft crop. 

Former ESPN analyst and current The Ringer podcast host Todd McShay agreed, saying:

"I don't know that another year of Quinn Ewers is necessarily going to change him like I think it could elevate a Carson Beck, Garrett Nussmeier, if I'm being totally honest. I think there's a difference. But I also think we didn't see the best of Quinn Ewers this year. Whether it was the oblique injury, the ankle injury at times, the pressure of playing at Texas which is a lot more overwhelming than people think...When I talk to NFL teams--and I've gotten this solicited and unsolicited--when I'm talking to guys in the league, landslide, [they say Quinn Ewers] needs to grad transfer."