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While Arch Manning is only entering his first season as Texas football's starting quarterback, it won't stop the masses from chattering about his NFL draft future.
Manning, a former five-star recruit and top-ranked quarterback out of high school, is set to lead the No. 1 Longhorns in 2025 after serving as a backup to Quinn Ewers the past two seasons. Expectations are sky high for the redshirt sophomore, of course, which comes with the name given his family ties.
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The 6-foot-4 quarterback still has two seasons of college eligibility remaining after 2025, as he redshirted in 2023 for what would've been his true freshman season. He's able to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, however, since he's in his third year removed from high school.
There's a decent chance Manning stays in college for the 2026 season, a sentiment echoed by his grandfather, former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. Archie Manning said he doesn't think Manning will declare for the upcoming NFL draft, opting to stay in school (though Arch Manning later clarified he is assessing his options).
If he declares, Manning is expected to be one of, if not the top quarterback prospects of the draft class along with names such as LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Clemson's Cade Klubnik, among others.
Here's where Manning's NFL draft stock stands heading into the 2025 season:
REQUIRED READING: Archie Manning downplays Arch Manning in 2026 NFL Draft: 'He’ll be at Texas'
Manning's NFL draft stock is hard to project, given the unknown of if he will declare or not.
Manning isn't listed in many notable NFL mock drafts, including mocks from ESPN's Matt Miller, who thinks Manning will stay in college after the 2025 season. Manning was also not included in former ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay's mock draft.
ESPN's Jordan Reid gave Manning a 5% chance of going No. 1 in 2025, largely due to the unknown of his draft status. Manning's 5% nod from Reid was behind Klubnik (15%), Sellers (15%), Nussmeier (15%), Penn State's Drew Allar (12%), Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (12%) and Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker (10%).
However, in mock drafts that do include Manning, he's typically found atop the first round.
CBS Sports has Manning going No. 1 overall to the New Orleans Saints in its way-too-early mock draft, which would put Manning on the same team his grandpa played for from 1971-82. Manning was also at No. 1 to the Cleveland Browns in Fox Sports' mock draft.
While Manning has to prove it on the field in 2025, he will certainly draw plenty of NFL draft consideration, especially if he lives up to the hype that has surrounded him since high school.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arch Manning NFL draft projection: Will Texas QB declare in 2026?
Continue reading...
Manning, a former five-star recruit and top-ranked quarterback out of high school, is set to lead the No. 1 Longhorns in 2025 after serving as a backup to Quinn Ewers the past two seasons. Expectations are sky high for the redshirt sophomore, of course, which comes with the name given his family ties.
PATH TO PLAYOFF: Sign up for our college football newsletter
The 6-foot-4 quarterback still has two seasons of college eligibility remaining after 2025, as he redshirted in 2023 for what would've been his true freshman season. He's able to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, however, since he's in his third year removed from high school.
There's a decent chance Manning stays in college for the 2026 season, a sentiment echoed by his grandfather, former Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. Archie Manning said he doesn't think Manning will declare for the upcoming NFL draft, opting to stay in school (though Arch Manning later clarified he is assessing his options).
If he declares, Manning is expected to be one of, if not the top quarterback prospects of the draft class along with names such as LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Clemson's Cade Klubnik, among others.
Here's where Manning's NFL draft stock stands heading into the 2025 season:
REQUIRED READING: Archie Manning downplays Arch Manning in 2026 NFL Draft: 'He’ll be at Texas'
Arch Manning NFL draft projection
Manning's NFL draft stock is hard to project, given the unknown of if he will declare or not.
Manning isn't listed in many notable NFL mock drafts, including mocks from ESPN's Matt Miller, who thinks Manning will stay in college after the 2025 season. Manning was also not included in former ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay's mock draft.
ESPN's Jordan Reid gave Manning a 5% chance of going No. 1 in 2025, largely due to the unknown of his draft status. Manning's 5% nod from Reid was behind Klubnik (15%), Sellers (15%), Nussmeier (15%), Penn State's Drew Allar (12%), Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (12%) and Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker (10%).
However, in mock drafts that do include Manning, he's typically found atop the first round.
CBS Sports has Manning going No. 1 overall to the New Orleans Saints in its way-too-early mock draft, which would put Manning on the same team his grandpa played for from 1971-82. Manning was also at No. 1 to the Cleveland Browns in Fox Sports' mock draft.
While Manning has to prove it on the field in 2025, he will certainly draw plenty of NFL draft consideration, especially if he lives up to the hype that has surrounded him since high school.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arch Manning NFL draft projection: Will Texas QB declare in 2026?
Continue reading...
