Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers is coming off one of his best years at the collegiate level, completing 293-of-445 passes for 3,472 yards, 31 touchdowns (led the SEC), 12 interceptions, and a 149 passing efficiency rating.
Despite the solid numbers, he's still a player who may not be taken very high in the draft, with Pro Football Focus ranking him as the No. 8 quarterback and the No. 142 player available.
In a mock draft done by ESPN, though, Matt Miller believes Ewers will go much earlier than that, landing with the New Orleans Saints with the No. 40 pick, setting him up to eventually replace Derek Carr.
"Ewers has injury concerns, but he did lead the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals in back-to-back seasons," Miller wrote. "He's a touch-and-timing passer who would fit new coach Kellen Moore's offense. Ewers doesn't add value as a runner and must work at seeing the field faster, but his arm talent and mechanics are fits for a future NFL starter."
Ewers won't be coming in and immediately playing, as Carr is entering the third season of a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints, which will keep him with the team through the 2026 season.
That means if this scenario did become a reality, Ewers could have two years to sit on the bench and learn behind a quarterback who has been named to four Pro Bowls in his 11-year career.
It's not as though the Saints need an immediate change, either, as Carr has been a serviceable quarterback for them the past two years, starting 27 games and completing 564-of-827 passes for 6,023 yards, 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
