Could Texas – Louisiana Monroe Game Affect the Draft?

The Carolina Panthers are back on the board as a QB needy team after benching Bryce Young. A conversation for another time certainly would have to include where the selection of Young over CJ Stroud will rank among the all-time worst draft choices in NFL history.

Yet, as fans look ahead to 2025, the QB Draft Class is not particularly impressive. Carson Beck has a lot of tools, but he lacks a wow factor. Shedeur Sanders is going to present a major distraction, even if one can be convinced that he’s more than just a “good” QB whose head coach father has him throw the ball enough for “great” stats. Jalen Milroe does not seem like a pro star, and Cameron Ward is a riser—though, this being his 5th season as a starter, that should be expected. See Kenny Pickett.

Texas signal caller Quinn Ewers arguably has the most ground to gain as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches. A former #1 high school prospect, he is talented and has led the Longhorns program back to national relevance. Early this season, he was completing nearly 75% of his passes with a stellar roster and a favorable SEC schedule ahead. 

If anyone is poised to pull off a Heisman, National Championship, and #1 Draft Pick trifecta, it would be Ewers. 

Except, now, he’s injured, and his backup QB is Arch Manning, arguably the most scrutinized and hyped prospect in years.

After Ewers went out with an abdominal strain last week, Manning looked really, really good coming off the bench. While it’s unfathomable to think of Ewers being benched, what if Manning puts together a dominant performance against ULM? Will the fanbase start demanding that he start the next week? Would Sarkisian consider that? What if Ewers’ recovery takes just a week longer than expected and Manning gets another chance to shine in Austin against Mississippi State?

At this point, such a scenario seems unlikely. However, it’s not completely implausible. Even a scenario where Manning forces split time could harm Ewers’ draft stock to the point where he hits the transfer portal and opts for 2026 instead.

This makes an otherwise unintriguing blowout one of football’s most important games this weekend.