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Quinn Ewers, Xavier Worthy included in recent ESPN first-round mock draft

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•07/06/23•

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The Texas Longhorns are looking to make it back-to-back drafts with a player selected in the first round after Bijan Robinson went to the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft. ESPN believes there’s a good chance of that happening, as two Longhorns were included in a 2024 first-round mock by ESPN’s Jordan Reid.

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Sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers, who will be draft eligible following the 2023 season, was mocked to the Washington Commanders with the No. 8 pick, while junior wide receiver Xavier Worthy was projected to go to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 32 overall selection.

ESPN on Quinn Ewers

A lot of this hinges on the development of Sam Howell. But if Washington is picking inside the top 10 next year, it means the team fell well below expectations and will likely be searching for a long-term answer under center.

Ewers came to Texas with plenty of hype and looked the part before hurting his shoulder against Alabama in Week 2. He shows a smooth, effortless arm as a passer, but I’d like to see more urgency in the mental and physical parts of the game. Under the tutelage of coach Steve Sarkisian — who developed Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones — Ewers could be in store for a big season.

Jordan Reid

Ewers, who transferred to Texas from Ohio State, started 10 games last season and missed three due to injury. Ewers was 172-for-296 for 2177 yards and 15 touchdowns over six interceptions. One of the highest-rated quarterback prospects ever coming out of Southlake (Texas) Carroll, Ewers was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect, the No. 1 quarterback, and the No. 1 player in Texas according to the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

The Longhorns’ last quarterback to be picked in the NFL Draft was Sam Ehlinger, who was taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the 218th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2021 draft. The last quarterback out of Texas to be picked in the first round was Vince Young in 2006.

Ewers was the third quarterback listed in the mock draft behind USC’s Caleb Williams at No. 1 and North Carolina’s Drake Maye at No. 3.

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ESPN on Xavier Worthy

Electing to take the non-pricey route at wide receiver paid off for the Chiefs last season, and drafting a pass-catcher in Round 1 next April makes sense. Worthy would bring an explosive skill set to Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes. He needs to gain mass at 6-foot and 160 pounds, but he plays the game in a different gear. He recorded 12 catches that gained 20 or more yards last season, and I could see him eventually taking over Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s role for the Chiefs.

Jordan Reid

The first-round drought for Texas at receiver extends further than the one for quarterbacks. The last Horn pass-catcher to go within the first 32 picks? Roy Williams back in 2004.

Worthy has been the Longhorns’ leading receiver each of the past two seasons, and has caught a pass in every one of his 25 career games. Last season, Worthy caught 60 passes for 760 yards and nine touchdowns and added a passing touchdown to his record.

Worthy was the fourth wide receiver listed in the mock draft behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, and Washington’s Rome Odunze.

Texas had five players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft: Bijan Robinson, DeMarvion Overshown, Roschon Johnson, Keondre Coburn, and Moro Ojomo.

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