The Jacksonville Jaguars have made a trade to acquire quarterback Quinn Ewers from the Miami Dolphins, where he will serve as the backup to starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This move comes as the Jaguars assessed their quarterback situation during the preseason and determined a need for improvement behind Lawrence.
General manager James Gladstone stated that discussions with the Dolphins regarding Ewers began shortly before the roster cut deadline, resulting in the Jaguars sending a late-round draft pick in exchange for the former University of Texas player. Ewers had a mixed performance last season with Miami, completing 55 of 83 passes for 622 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions in four games.
Ewers expressed enthusiasm about joining the Jaguars, noting the team's positive trajectory after a successful previous season. He stated, "I’m just excited to be here and trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can in such a short amount of time."
The Jaguars had previously evaluated their quarterback options, which included Carter Bradley, Nick Mullens, and rookie Joey Aguilar. Mullens, despite his experience, struggled during the preseason, while Bradley was waived due to injury. Aguilar showed promise but was considered too risky as an immediate backup.
Coach Liam Coen highlighted Ewers' arm talent and his familiarity with a similar offensive system, which could ease his transition to the Jaguars. Ewers mentioned that while there are differences in terminology and formations, he has run many of the plays before, which should assist him in adapting quickly to the team's scheme.
