Arch Manning is finally going to be the starting quarterback at the University of Texas this fall, barring unforeseen circumstance. NFL teams are going to salivate over the former No. 1 overall recruit.
However, they will be sorely disappointed if they chose to tank for a higher draft pick!
Manning, a rising redshirt sophomore, will turn 20 years old on the day after the NFL Draft later this month. It is possible that he could be drafted into the league on the weekend of his 21st birthday. College football players must be three years removed from high school to turn pro. This upcoming season will be Manning’s third year at Texas. He could forgo his remaining two years of eligibility after a strong year in Austin.
Probably not.
There are multiple reasons for Manning to play at least one more season with the Longhorns beyond 2025. First and foremost, he is at his dream school. He wants to bring a national title to Austin.
Even if Texas wins a national championship in the fall, education is very important to the Manning family. Arch will want to get his degree and graduate. He will also want to fulfill his commitment to the university.
Peyton and Eli took a similar approach at the encouragement of their father, Archie. The former played four years at Tennessee. The latter played four years at Ole Miss. They did not leave early for the NFL.
Arch Manning may also want more time to develop. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound signal-caller waited patiently for his opportunity behind Quinn Ewers. One year of college football may not be enough! Archie recently said that he hopes his grandson will play three full years.
NIL is another piece of the equation. Manning can still get paid (handsomely) while in college. An NFL salary is not a necessity for him or his family. Why rush?
I fully expect Arch Manning to stay at Texas through at least 2026— meaning two more years beyond this year for a four-year career. Adam Schefter agrees.
It sounds like he certainly could be staying beyond next year. I’m not a college football insider, but none of the Mannings ever went out early, and I don’t know with NIL money being what it is why Arch would do that. So, all of this conversation about “tanking for Arch next year,” he could be in the draft in 2027, not even next year.
— Adam Schefter
The current NFL Draft class is not as impressive when it comes to quarterbacks. Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart are the top-three guys. There is a steep drop off from there. (On paper, at least.)
NFL teams that need a quarterback or might soon need a quarterback could choose to wait for next year to pull the trigger with the hope that they will land Arch Manning. That would be ill-advised. He probably won’t be ripe for the picking until April of 2027, if not 2028!