Arch Manning Not Worthy of Being a First-Round Pick, Says Analyst
Newsweek · C · trust 34/100
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns led by Arch Manning at quarterback have clearly positioned themselves to be true CFP contenders. But despite this, Manning's draft stock has seemingly continued to slide, perhaps even out of the first round of the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft.
Individually, Manning has largely been unexceptional. Against top competition like Ohio State and Tennessee, Manning has shown clear limitations as a passer, throwing interceptions in both games and throwing for just 195 yards and 201 yards in the respective games.
Fair or unfair, the production simply has not matched the billing many had for Manning heading into the 2026 college football season of a potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Due to his unspectacular individual play thus far this year, Manning has dropped significantly down the draft board of prominent CBS NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson.
Discussing Manning's draft stock on Tuesday, Wilson detailed why he no longer has Manning as a first-round pick on his latest 2027 NFL mock draft.
"I've talked to folk in the league that are... I don't want to say frustrated. But Arch Manning has not lived up to expectations," said Wilson. "I think he is under immense pressure. More than any pressure his uncles faced because of the technological world we live in. But at the end of the day, he has not played up to being a first-round pick."
Wilson would go on to draw an unfortunate comparison for Manning to several recent draft picks with immense arm talent that ultimately did not plan out as NFL starting quarterbacks.
"I was talking about this with you guys before we came on. Anthony Richardson, high-upside, traitsy guy. Will Levis, high-upside, traitsy guy. Arch Manning is one of the best athletes playing college football. He has a big arm, he can do a lot of things well. But he has not played, either last year or this year, like a top 15 pick.
"If you need other positions to fill out the roster from 16-32, I'm not take a developmental quarterback until after Round 1. So that's where I came down there. Doesn't mean that the season can't play out differently for Arch and he gets red hot. But right now, I have five other quarterbacks I would take before Arch if the draft were tomorrow."
The positive aspect of this year thus far for Manning is that the team success has been there. Chances are, he will have his chance to show his value on plenty of big stages down the stretch of the year if the University of Texas continues on their current trajectory.
Manning's next chance to potentially improve his draft stock will come in a high-profile Week 6 matchup against his team's biggest rival, the Oklahoma Sooners. The Red River Rivalry will kickoff at 3:30 pm EST on Saturday, Oct. 10, on ABC.
Read the original at Newsweek →
Open in TruthVane →