Texas is still days away from kicking off its 2024 college football season, but many NFL draft analysts are already looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Longhorns were well-represented in the 2024 NFL Draft, setting a program record of 11 players selected throughout seven rounds. More impressively, five of the draftees were selected within the first two rounds. It's a testament to the incredible player development Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff have implemented in Austin over the last few years.
That trend could continue in 2025.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers and left tackle Kelvin Banks are widely viewed as the Longhorns highest rated draft prospects for this coming April. Banks is considered the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country behind LSU's Will Campbell and could realistically find himself in the top-10 pick conversation.
Ewers has all the arm talent but needs to showcase consistency a durability this season. Texas' signal-caller has missed games due to injury the last two seasons. Heading into the 2024 season, Ewers is considered a Heisman Trophy contender and one of the nation's top players.
While some NFL Draft analysts believe Ewers could be in the mix as the No. 1 QB prospect, Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling is a bit lower on him than most. In Easterling's latest mock draft, Ewers falls to the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 23 in the first round.
"It sure looks like the Cowboys aren't committed to Dak Prescott as their franchise quarterback past this year, which means they'd better have a plan to replace him next offseason," Easterling said. "Jerry Jones could look to Austin for Ewers, who still has plenty of question marks in terms of durability and consistency, but a big arm and plenty of upside if he can smooth out the rough edges in his game."
Should Ewers continue progressing this season and Dallas move on from Prescott, it could be a match made in heaven for the two parties. However, Ewers likely won't last until the back half of the first round if he has the type of year many expect.
Banks was the first Longhorn off the board in Easterling's mock. Texas' star left tackle was projected to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 15 overall pick.
Texas will look to live up to the hype as they kick off the 2024 season against Colorado State on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Related: Quinn Ewers and Shedeur Sanders Headline The 2025 NFL Draft QB Class
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