Texas' Arch Manning could crush NFL teams’ dreams, follow Peyton and Eli draft blueprint

This year's NFL Draft has most scouts and teams leery on quarterbacks, even the top two in Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. It's left many waiting for next season, when at least one quarterback, Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning, will be draft eligible.

However, teams hoping to land the next great Manning quarterback may not want to put all their eggs in that basket. The Longhorns signal-caller has a good chance of returning to Austin after next season to play out his senior year, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.

"First of all, there's no guarantees that Arch Manning's coming out after next year," Schefter said on Thursday's episode of Get Up, via Bleacher Report. "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."

Arch’s uncles, Peyton and Eli, both finished out their senior seasons at Tennessee and Ole Miss, respectively. However, his grandfather, Archie, played just three years at Ole Miss. Still, Schefter is right to highlight Manning’s NIL earnings. His NIL valuation currently sits at $6.5 million, and he recently signed on to partner with Red Bull back in February, according to Fox Sports.

The hype around the generational Manning is expected to reach an all-time high this season, with some analysts even calling it “Tebow-esque.” And that’s despite Manning’s limited action at Texas so far.

The former five-star recruit has made just two starts but appeared in 10 games last season, finishing with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, along with 108 rushing yards and four more scores.

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Should Manning help Texas make a deep playoff run—like the Longhorns have done in the past two seasons under Quinn Ewers—it will be tough to stop the NFL from calling. But for now, there’s a real chance Manning could be back for one more run in 2026.

MORE ARCH MANNING: Texas' Arch Manning ranks outside top 10 QB list, falls behind Florida’s D.J. Lagway, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers