2026 NFL Prospect—Texas QB Arch Manning

Texas quarterback Arch Manning, the grandson of New Orleans Saints great Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli Manning, is the odds-on favorite to be the first prospect off the board next April. With bloodlines like that, it’s hard to overlook his pro potential. 

But, potential needs to be realized this year when he steps in as the Longhorns’ full-time starter after the departure of longtime starter Quinn Ewers to the Miami Dolphins in last year’s draft. Manning played well but sparingly in 2024, logging nearly 1,000 yards and 9 touchdowns in the air and 4 more on the ground in limited action. Scouts are frothing at the mouth to see how he performs this coming fall, as the eyes of the NFL world will be waiting for the arrival of the third generation of Mannings to grace an NFL stadium. 

Strengths

Arch Manning is exactly what NFL teams want to see in their franchise quarterback. Steeped in football from a young age, it’s not surprising that Manning has a commanding pocket presence and the poise of a veteran. He makes quick decisions and reads defenses well already.

From a physical perspective, he’s big and has the best arm strength in the class. He can make all of the throws and tosses an accurate deep ball with touch. He’s got wheels too, as he demonstrated last season, scoring a 67-yard touchdown on the ground. 

Weaknesses

In truth, there’s not a single physical or mental aspect of Manning’s game that would give scouts pause. But there’s always room for improvement, and Manning will need to iron out some of those finer points when he has a full season to show his abilities as a starter.  

Scouts will want to see more accuracy from Manning when he’s outside of the pocket or under pressure. Others will quibble about Manning’s ball placement or point to his lack of experience as a starter and time against the elite defenses of the SEC. Much of this will be put to bed this fall, but it is noteworthy that Manning can choose to return to Texas if his season doesn’t go as well as planned. His uncle, Peyton Manning did so at Tennessee, opting to play a fourth season before entering the league. And with substantial NIL funds available to him, this is a real possibility. 

Conclusion

Arch Manning is the dream prospect for many teams, and there are scouts already labeling him as a generational talent. It’s hard to see around his last name and family history, of course, but when teams dig into his film, they see elite arm strength, physical size, and playmaking skills. 

This coming year, when he becomes a full-time starter, many of the outstanding questions about him will be answered. Yes, he remains relatively inexperienced, but a full season facing down SEC defenses and a likely playoff run will tell scouts all they will need to know. It’s hard to see a scenario where he isn’t the first player off the board in 2026, even if he doesn’t realize his full potential.