Tanking NFL groups: don't get your hopes up.
Whereas the 2026 NFL Draft remains to be nowhere shut on the calendar, all eyes are on Texas quarterback Arch Manning and whether or not or not he'll enter the draft after his third season with the Longhorns.
The 21-year-old hasn't hinted at something but, however his grandfather, the legendary Archie Manning, might have simply killed the hopes and goals of groups who might discover themselves on the high of the 2026 draft boards.
“Arch isn't going to do this,” Archie told the Texas Monthly of the potential of his grandson getting into the draft earlier than graduating. “He'll be at Texas.”
Manning, in fact, is the nephew of quarterbacks Peyton and Eli, who notably every accomplished 4 years of college earlier than declaring for his or her respective drafts.
Peyton was a four-year starter at Tennessee earlier than going first total within the 1998 draft.
After showing in simply six video games as a freshman, Eli was a full-time starter for 3 seasons at Ole Miss earlier than he declared for the 2004 draft and in addition went first total.
Grandfather Archie additionally graduated from Ole Miss and was a three-year starter at quarterback earlier than being drafted second total in 1971.
If Arch had been to declare for the draft after the upcoming season, his case for the highest draft decide can be primarily based solely on one full marketing campaign because the Longhorns' starter.
Manning appeared in simply two video games as a freshman in 2023 sitting behind Quinn Ewers, however he made 10 loud appearances this previous season, beginning in two of them, and racking up 9 passing touchdowns, 4 dashing and two interceptions.
Arch has the instruments of the Mannings who got here earlier than him whereas additionally being a twin risk with operating skills that neither of his uncles had of their taking part in days.
NFL groups will clearly must see a full season of labor to contemplate making Arch the third Manning to go No. 1, or the fourth to go within the high two, however he at the moment tasks to have his identify close to the highest of draft boards, whether or not it's in 2026 or 2027.
