Former Florida football starting quarterback Graham Mertz is officially a member of the National Football League after signing a four-year, $4.9 million contract with the Houston Texans, who selected him in the sixth round with the No. 197 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 216-pound signal caller started his collegiate career with the Wisconsin Badgers, playing four seasons under center in Madison — including his 2019 redshirt freshman season — before transferring to Gainesville for the final two years of eligibility. Mertz started every regular-season game during his final three years with Wisconsin, passing at a 59.1% clip for 5,332 yards and 38 touchdowns against 26 interceptions from 2020-2022.

After joining the Orange and Blue, the native of Overland Park, Kansas, upped his game by leading the SEC in passing percentage at 72.9% while throwing for 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns while tossing just three picks. However, his stint with the Gators was marred by injuries — first against the Missouri Tigers in 2023 that forced him to miss the rivalry matchup with the Florida State Seminoles.

Then in 2024, Mertz made it through just five games before the injury bug struck again, ending his season at the Tennessee Volunteers. However, that may have been a blessing in disguise, as it opened the door for DJ Lagway to assume his inevitable position as the program’s star quarterback.

Mertz finished his collegiate career with a 64.7% passing percentage along with 9,099 yards through the air and 64 scores while tossing 31 interceptions.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football: QB Graham Mertz signs deal NFL with Houston Texans