Graham Mertz, once a highly touted quarterback recruit from Wisconsin, faced significant challenges during his time at Florida and was ultimately drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round. Mertz's collegiate journey was marked by inconsistency, having thrown 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while completing just under 60% of passes at Wisconsin. However, at Florida, he showcased impressive growth, setting program records for completion percentage (72.9) and consecutive passes without an interception (239), before suffering a broken collarbone that ended his season.

Despite a promising college career, Mertz's journey was hindered by injuries, including a concussion and a torn ACL. Now with the Texans, Mertz will compete for the backup position behind rising star CJ Stroud, hoping to prove his worth after a rocky college tenure. He is joined by several former teammates who were also drafted or signed as free agents, reflecting a strong Gators presence in the NFL draft this year.