The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly conducted an official interview with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers during the NFL Combine. This news came to light Wednesday evening, shared by the Twitter/X account @_MLFootball.
Quinn Ewers, the standout QB from Texas, seems to be in the spotlight. According to sources close to the situation, the Steelers are showing significant interest in this young talent. Ewers, who is 21 years old, has displayed remarkable performance on the road, boasting an 11-1 record in conference away games. Impressively, he’s led his team to the College Football Playoff semifinals for two consecutive seasons, ending his stint at Texas with a 27-5 record as a starter.
In this year’s draft, Ewers finds himself in a competitive bracket among quarterbacks striving to secure a slot as a Tier 2 passer. Leading the pack are Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Ewers had his share of ups and downs in the 2024 season, playing through injuries but still managing to conclude the year with 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, propelling Texas into the College Football Playoffs.
Our scouting expert, Nate Kosko, has painted a detailed picture of Ewers’ abilities. He points out Ewers’ seasoned demeanor, swift release, and skillful anticipatory throwing as his standout qualities. Nevertheless, Kosko notes areas for improvement, such as Ewers’ erratic accuracy on long throws and his tendency to take unnecessary sacks. His in-depth analysis is as follows:
“Ewers needs to mature as a pocket passer to succeed as a reliable second-string quarterback in the NFL. His confidence and precision, particularly when hitting targets in the middle of the field, are commendable and hard to find. However, he must sharpen his accuracy across all three levels, especially outside the numbers, and bolster his physical frame, focusing on his lower body. Learning the ropes as a backup quarterback will entail grasping complex NFL offenses, which differ greatly from what seemed like a simplified college system tailored to his current skill set. Navigating through pressure will be essential for his survival in the NFL. He needs to stay planted in the pocket and work through his progressions in a true drop-back scenario. With limited athletic prowess and moderate arm strength, distributing the ball widely could be challenging for him. I’d compare him to Drew Lock in style.”
Kosko’s evaluation places Ewers in the fifth round, aligning with current expectations for his draft position. However, a solid performance during the Combine and the subsequent pre-draft activities could elevate his standing. Ewers is vying against quarterbacks like Kyle McCord from Syracuse, Jalen Milroe from Alabama, Will Howard from Ohio State, and Tyler Shough from Louisville for a better draft position.
Ewers and his fellow Combine quarterbacks are set to address the media later this week, which should give us further insight into how seriously the Steelers might consider adding him to their roster. Although they have the option of signing or re-signing a veteran quarterback, with names like Russell Wilson and Justin Fields floating in discussions, pursuing a rookie QB remains a possibility for Pittsburgh, especially if a vacancy arises for the backup QB role.
Be sure to check out our comprehensive report on Quinn Ewers, and keep an eye on our Steelers’ Combine meeting tracker, which we’ll be updating throughout the week.
