© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Media Already Predicting Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning As A Top 2026 NFL Draft Pick
Arch Manning hasn't even started a game for the Texas Longhorns yet but he is already receiving NFL Draft chatter.
It's not often that a quarterback with five career passing attempts and 30 career passing yards is in NFL Draft discussions, but it's also not typical for there to be Mannings all over the place.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning had one of the most intriguing yet secretive recruitments throughout his entire process, and broke the internet when he chose Texas. He was automatically tabbed as someone who would push Quinn Ewers for the starting role during his freshman season, which didn't happen as he was third on the depth chart behind Ewers and Maalik Murphy who is now at Duke.
However, even with his little playing experience, he is viewed as having NFL starting potential, which doesn't come as a surprise considering his family has three legendary quarterbacks in it.
Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up before the
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
In a recent article by A to Z Sports' Mauricio Rodriguez, Manning's most likely landing spots in the 2026 NFL Draft, yes you read that right, were identified. Rodriguez explained that even if you ignore his last name, he still has the makeup of an NFL quarterback.
"He's got the traits and high school film to project him as a strong QB prospect down the road, entering college football as a five-star recruit," explained Rodriguez.
When it came down to his likeliest landing spots, Rodriguez tabbed the Denver Broncos, whom his uncle Peyton played for, the New Orleans Saints whom his grandpa Archie played for, and also happens to be his hometown team, the New York Giants, which is who his uncle Eli played for.
It may seem a bit naive to think he could be the next Manning for one of those three teams, but the Saints may want to move on from Derek Carr, the Broncos will likely know by then if they like their quarterback situation assuming they draft one this year, and the Giants may also want to move on from their hodgepodge of mediocre NFL signal callers.
The other two teams were the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals.
Manning is set to become the starter in 2025 after Ewers, who returned for his senior year, departs for the NFL. There is no doubt that he will be the most watched, hyped, and scrutinized first-time starter of the past decade or two.
