Arch Manning predicted to make struggling AFC team ‘desirable’ if he leaves Texas in 2027 to replace $94 million QB

Arch Manning's grandfather, Archie, has made it clear that he believes the Texas Longhorns quarterback will be back in Austin in 2026.

In an interview with Texas Monthly, Archie discussed a variety of topics, but what stood out most was his comment about his grandson’s future.

“Arch isn’t going to do that,” Manning said when asked whether his grandson would declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. “He’ll be at Texas.”

That won’t stop analysts from continuing to project him as an early draft pick, even if those predictions seem premature.

Which is why, when talking about Arch Manning now, the conversation is probably better focused on 2027 — when he could realistically enter the NFL Draft. Of course, he still has eligibility through 2028.

One team already being linked to Arch down the road is the Miami Dolphins. CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan recently pegged Miami as the top destination for Manning in a way-too-early 2027 mock draft.

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“The Miami Dolphins feel like an organization that’s teetering with its current regime,” Sullivan wrote. “Mike McDaniel has one of the hottest seats in the NFL entering the 2025 season, and questions surrounding Tua Tagovailoa’s availability every week continue to fester (not to mention his play later in the season in colder weather). All of this could come to a head as soon as this season, but what if the Dolphins brass decides to give this group one more season, especially if they tread water this year?”

If things collapse in 2026, the Dolphins could move on from Tagovailoa with ease. According to Over the Cap, Tagovailoa has no guaranteed money owed in 2027 or 2028. Miami could save $36.6 million in 2027 and $57.4 million in 2028 by releasing him. That would create the perfect opportunity to reset the quarterback room with Manning.

“If they decided to move off of McDaniel at that juncture as well,” Sullivan added, “the lure of getting Manning as your quarterback to develop would make the Dolphins arguably the most desirable job that cycle.”

Of course, none of this is set in stone. Arch still has just two career starts, and even if he starts all 16 games this season, that still might not be enough to satisfy NFL evaluators. Which is exactly why it makes all the sense in the world for him to return for at least one more year.