The No. 5-ranked Texas Longhorns take on the Florida Gators on Saturday, as quarterback Quinn Ewers and company attempt to improve their record to 8-1.
It remains possible that Ewers has fewer than 10 games remaining in his collegiate career should he declare for the NFL draft, potentially paving the way for Arch Manning to take the Longhorns’ reins full time in 2025.
In his 2025 NFL mock draft for November, CBS Sports draft analyst Chris Trapasso predicted five quarterbacks taken in the first round. Among them was Ewers, whom he projected to land with the Los Angeles Rams as a future replacement for Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford.
“Ewers gets to learn from another former huge recruit with a cannon for an arm before taking over in 2026,” Trapasso wrote, predicting the Texas starter to be picked No. 16 overall.
The Rams’ financial commitment to Stafford remains significant. The now 36-year-old signed a four-year, $160 million extension in March 2022 and carries a $53.6 million salary cap hit in 2025 and 2026. However, the structure of the deal offers L.A. a potential out after next season with an affordable $22.6 million dead cap hit pushed ahead to 2026.