Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was noncommittal on Monday while speaking about his future, leaving it up in the air whether he would return to school for his senior season or enter the 2025 NFL draft.

"I'm not sure yet, I'm just trying to win these [College Football Playoff] games," he told reporters. "I haven't thought about anything beyond that."

There have been reports, however, that Ewers will head to the NFL:

The Longhorns won't exactly be in trouble next season if Ewers declares for the NFL draft, given that the highly-touted Arch Manning is waiting in the wings. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning has looked excellent in his cameos this season, throwing for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 67.8 percent of his passes.

There's an argument to be made that even if Ewers returns to school, the Longhorns would be best suited holding a true quarterback competition next season. Manning has waited patiently for two years behind Ewers, but he deserves a shot at the starting gig.

Ewers, of course, hasn't done anything to lose his starting spot, throwing for 2,665 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 66.2 percent of his passes. He's led Texas to a second straight berth in the CFP, with a first-round matchup against Clemson on Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. ET (TNT, HBO Max).

But it's also fair to question if Ewers has improved his draft stock much this season. In the team's pair of losses to Georgia he threw for 569 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, taking 11 sacks and losing two fumbles. Not exactly banner showings against the top opponent he faced, and not exactly the sort of film likely to impress NFL scouts.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Ewers ranked fifth among quarterbacks on his latest big board behind Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Miami's Cam Ward, Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Georgia's Carson Beck.

This doesn't appear to be a particularly strong draft class at quarterback, which likely means that Ewers' floor is a second- or third-round pick. But would another season solidify his status as a true first-round talent?

That's hard to say. For now, Ewers is only focused on Clemson. But his decision once the Longhorns' season is over will be of particular interest to those in Austin and NFL circles.