With Sunday’s 6:00 PM deadline for NFL 53-man rosters looming, the Jacksonville Jaguars have taken steps to reinforce their quarterback depth. On Saturday, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that the franchise has secured a trade for Quinn Ewers, the backup passer for the Miami Dolphins.
Trade Terms
To complete the transaction, Jacksonville will send a 2028 sixth-round selection to Miami, according to team reports. By surrendering only a distant sixth-rounder that has minimal impact on their long-term draft assets, the Jaguars acquire an inexpensive backup player who demonstrated flashes of capability during three late-season starts last year.
Protecting valuable future assets in the upcoming 2027 draft represents a smart move by Jaguars general manager James Gladstone.
This deal aligns with pivotal moments for both organizations. The Dolphins are transitioning to a new chapter centered around Malik Willis after moving on from Tua Tagovailoa in a highly publicized and costly roster move. However, Miami’s backup quarterback plans grew messy after Ewers struggled in exhibition games and suffered a subsequent groin injury. Meanwhile, in Jacksonville, the trade immediately puts Nick Mullens’ position on the roster into question as the season nears.
An Overview of Quinn Ewers
LANDOVER, MD – AUGUST 14: Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (#14) drops back to pass against the Washington Commanders during a preseason matchup at Northwest Stadium on August 14, 2026, in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 23-year-old Ewers entered professional football as a highly debated prospect. Measuring 6-foot-2 and weighing 209 pounds, the signal-caller played initially at Ohio State before transferring to the Texas Longhorns. At Texas, he guided the team to a major turnaround, posting a 33-10 record over three seasons, reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals twice, and recording 9,128 passing yards alongside 68 touchdowns, according to the Houston Chronicle. Pro Football Reference notes he was named to the second-team All-Big 12 roster in 2023 and earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2024.
In spite of those collegiate accolades, Ewers fell to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, where he was chosen 231st overall as the final quarterback off the board. He is currently entering the second year of a four-season rookie contract valued at $4.33 million. His slide on draft day was largely attributed to scout concerns regarding his deep-ball power, inconsistent footwork, and pocket navigation when facing premier defenses near the end of his college career.
His 2025 Debut Campaign
During his rookie year, Ewers managed to secure a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster, playing in a reserve role behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson. He participated in four contests and received three starts, recording the following statistics:
-
Completed Passes / Attempts: 55 out of 83
-
Pass Completion Rate: 66.3%
Called upon to replace an injured Tagovailoa during the final stretch of the 2025 regular season, Ewers performed admirably in his three starts, demonstrating the precise decision-making and downfield passing that had made him a highly touted recruit at Texas. He managed a 1-2 record as a starter, which was highlighted by a 20-17 win against Tampa Bay where he completed 14 of 22 attempts for 172 yards, tossing two touchdowns without throwing an interception.
A Challenging 2026 Offseason
Ewers approached the 2026 offseason with plenty of promise. He looked sharp in early team activities and minicamps, earning praise from Miami’s coaching staff as he built upon his late-season experience from the prior year. When the Dolphins acquired Malik Willis to pilot the offense, many believed Ewers would secure the primary backup spot or even emerge as an outside contender for the starting job.
However, his preseason campaign went off the rails. In his opening exhibition game against the Washington Commanders, Ewers struggled immensely, completing only a single pass on eight attempts for just 27 yards, while also throwing an interception.
That poor showing led several Dolphins beat writers to suggest that Ewers was on the roster bubble. His outlook worsened when he suffered a groin injury shortly after. Unable to play in Miami’s second preseason matchup, Ewers watched as Malik Willis locked down the top job and Cam Miller ran the third game’s offense. By the time final roster cuts arrived, Ewers was deemed surplus to requirements in Miami’s evolving quarterback room.
The Case for His Potential
Still, there is a strong argument that Ewers possesses more developmental upside than other reserve options like Mullens, Carter Bradley, or Joey Aguilar. While his 2026 preseason was disappointing, context is crucial. Operating behind a struggling second-string offensive line with limited receiving depth under a coaching staff that did not draft him is rarely a path to success. Jacksonville offers a fresh environment where they might unlock his high-caliber traits within a more favorable setup. The Jaguars’ receiving group—featuring Josh Cameron, CJ Williams, Nate Boerkircher, and Tanner Koziol under offensive coordinator Liam Coen—presents a far stronger supporting cast than the depth options in Miami. Furthermore, with Miami employing a brand-new leadership group in 2026 consisting of GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, head coach Jeff Hafley, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Ewers may simply have been a victim of the wrong scheme. For the low price of a future late-round pick, taking a flyer on a former All-SEC second-team quarterback is a logical gamble for Jacksonville.
Impact on the Jaguars’ Roster
The primary question generated by this trade involves Nick Mullens’ future with the team. The veteran backup put together a solid preseason showing, highlighted by a Week 2 performance against the Carolina Panthers in which he completed six of his first seven throws for 65 yards (averaging 9.3 yards per catch). He followed that up in the preseason finale by completing five of seven passes for 62 yards. Despite these efficient stat lines, Mullens was less impressive in practice, where the second-team offense frequently stalled, leaving his evaluation somewhat mixed.
Whether Mullens keeps his backup role, falls to third on the depth chart behind Ewers, or gets released entirely will be revealed when Jacksonville trims down to 53 players. Regardless of the outcome, the Jaguars have acquired a 23-year-old quarterback with notable talent and multiple years left on his contract to learn their system.
Looking Ahead
The Jaguars now have a two-week window to integrate Ewers into their playbook, allowing the coaching staff ample time to prepare the young signal-caller before live action starts.
The final roster cutdown must be completed by Sunday, and Jacksonville will kick off their 2026 regular season campaign at home against the Cleveland Browns on September 13th.
