Quinn Ewers set to make $4.3M with Dolphins: How much would the former Texas QB have earned by entering the transfer portal?

Quinn Ewers made a pivotal decision when he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, turning down several lucrative NIL offers that could have come had he transferred from the Texas Longhorns to another college program. Ewers was selected by the Miami Dolphins and is expected to sign a four-year contract worth up to $4.33 million, according to reports. After news of his deal broke, many have been left wondering just how much money the former Longhorns quarterback passed up by forgoing his final year of college eligibility.

Ewers came off a dramatic redshirt-junior year with the University of Texas in Austin: missing several games due to injuries and enduring a setback in his performance which caused his stock to drop considerably heading to the Draft.

Ultimately, Ewers was drafted by the Dolphins with the 231st overall pick, being the last quarterback taken off the board. Ewers enters the organization in Miami Gardens as the third quarterback in a room with two young signal callers, Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson.

Tagovailoa is the undisputed QB1 for the Dolphins, but Ewers will compete for the backup spot with Wilson who has struggled to establish himself since entering the league in 2021 as a second overall pick. Moreover, concerns about Tua’s health, as the 27-year-old has played an average of 12.8 games per season in his first five seasons. If Ewers is able to capitalize on his opportunities, he might find himself under center during his rookie season.

Quinn Ewers #QB04 of Texas speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Ewers’ decision to declare for the NFL Draft — rather than transferring from Texas, where Arch Manning was set to take over under center — sparked polarized opinions. Some argue he made the right call, doing the respectable thing by showing loyalty to his home-state school, while others believe he should have stayed in college football for another year, aiming to boost his draft stock and cash in on lucrative NIL opportunities.

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Quinn Ewers' net worth: How much money does the Texas Longhorns star have?

How much did Ewers pass on?

According to reports by On3‘s Pete Nakos, Ewers had received a $6 million offer from an undisclosed program to enter the transfer portal ahead of his last year in the NCAA. However, Ewers rejected the offer, instead leading the Longhorns to the College Football Playoffs Semifinal, where they fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

If Ewers had elected to transfer, he’d have earned $6M in one year, compared to his rookie deal in which he’ll earn approximately $1M a year for the next four years. Thus, Ewers has ultimately passed up on about $5M after declaring for the NFL Draft.

Moreover, Ewers’ future isn’t guaranteed in Miami, where he’ll have to prove his worth with a very short leash as he arrived as a seventh-round selection.

The odds aren’t in Ewers’ favor — but he’s made a career out of defying them. Being selected by an NFL team was a dream come true, yet given the slim percentage of seventh-rounders who ever become starters — especially at the most important position in sports — the real grind for Ewers is only just beginning.