Ex-Georgia QB gets brutally honest on Arch Manning hype

A lot of discussion has been made about Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. He is set to be the starting QB at Texas in 2025, and there is already a lot of buzz that he will be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, if he decides to declare. 

Manning started a handful of games in 2024 while Quinn Ewers was sidelined with an injury, and that small sample size sure had fans excited to see him work as the QB1 this year. 

But, not everybody is fully on board with the Manning hype. 

On a recent College Sports XM Radio segment, former Georgia QB Aaron Murray had a brutally honest assessment of Manning, and he isn't all the way in like others are. 

“I am not sold, like so many of the other people are, that this guy is going to be the number one pick in NFL draft, that he’s going to just be unbelievable, that he’s going to be the next coming of Peyton and Eli,” Murray said. “I was a big fan of Quinn Ewers heading into the season. I thought Quinn did some good stuff at times last season, but let’s be honest, Texas had probably the second or third best roster in America. Why were they not competing for a national championship? It was because Quinn was holding them back. Quinn did not perform to the level that I thought he could, and then you see now in the NFL Draft he gets drafted in the seventh round?"

“So all in all, Quinn Ewers had a disappointing season, and it reflected in his draft stock. If you are so good and everyone has you projected number one pick in the NFL Draft, come 2026, why in the hell are you not playing above a seventh-round quarterback?" Murray continued. "What was holding them back? Quinn Ewers. Why was Arch not playing? It’s like that rubs me the wrong way a little bit.”

Ewers was selected in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins, but Murray wonders why Manning wasn't playing more in 2024, which was a big talking point even during the season. 

On the other hand, Murray said Manning's tape "looks good at times" but adds it "doesn't scream first-round talent to me off the bat," although he does admit he is cheering for the Texas signal-caller.  

"And I’m never going to talk bad about a quarterback, because I know how difficult it is. I’m cheering for him like I cheer for every quarterback. I want them all to have success, but I need to see it first. I’m not going to crown you this All-American superstar," Murray said. 

In 2024, Manning threw for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, with his best performance coming against UTSA. 

While a lot of fans and analysts are head over heels for Manning, Murray isn't all the way in, at least not yet. 

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