The 2025 NFL Draft left football fans stunned when the Houston Texans traded up in the sixth round to grab Florida quarterback Graham Mertz with the 197th pick, while Texas star Quinn Ewers went undrafted. The move sparked immediate outrage, especially among Texas faithful who watched their championship-caliber quarterback get passed over for a player many considered a career backup at best.
The Texans’ quarterback room already features rising star C.J. Stroud and Davis Mills entering a contract year, making the selection even more puzzling to observers. Mertz, who transferred to Florida after starting at Wisconsin, put up solid numbers in 2023 (2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns, three interceptions) before a torn ACL limited his 2024 season to just six games.
Fans Furious Over QB Quinn Ewers’ Snub in Favor of Graham Mertz
Social media exploded with disbelief after the selection. “Wtf. Pick Ewers if you are going to pick a qb. Doubt anyone else would have taken him,” wrote one fan. Another fumed, “Houston, Houston, Houston-you chose a so so Florida guy over Ewers SMH — WE so S*CK – again.”
The anger makes sense when you look at Ewers’ resume. The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class led Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, throwing for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024 alone.
His career totals — 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns — speak to his big-game ability, despite battling an oblique tear and high ankle sprain.
View this post on Instagram
“Can’t believe Quinn Ewers is still available. Stupid NFL GMs, don’t they know talent Texas fans!?” another frustrated supporter posted.
The Debate: Talent Evaluation vs. Fan Perception
Not everyone sees Ewers as the clear choice, though. One AFC executive offered a sobering assessment: “He’s a good player, but he’s more player than talent. The arm’s very average, and there’s not a lot of talent there.”
Adding to the drama, Ewers became a viral sensation during the draft for entirely different reasons. Viewers noticed his home featured an impressive wall of taxidermy animal heads, prompting jokes like “Quinn Ewers easily the best taxidermist on the board” and “This taken inside a Bass Pro Shop?”
KEEP READING: Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft
For Houston, the move might be about finding a developmental prospect who could step up if Mills leaves in free agency. But for college football fans, particularly those in Texas, passing on Ewers for Mertz remains, as one critic bluntly put it, “brain damage at its finest.”
Only time will tell which quarterback’s NFL career will ultimately justify or condemn the Texans’ controversial decision.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
