Many NFL teams looking for a quarterback might wait until 2026 to find their franchise signal caller.
The 2025 QB class, led by Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, is considered weak. They’re the only two quarterbacks known for certain to be taken in the first round — Ward most likely going No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans.
Other quarterback prospects like Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Quinn Ewers will likely have to wait.
Because of this, quarterback-needy teams are looking toward next year when signal callers like Texas’ Arch Manning, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Penn State’s Drew Allar, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold might declare for the draft.
However, one top NFL insider has a warning for teams eyeing one of these prospects.
NFL insider doesn’t believe it’s sure-thing this QB prospect will declare for 2026 NFL Draft
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up,” NFL insider Adam Schefter said teams shouldn’t put all their chips in for Manning in the 2026 draft.
“First of all, there’s no guarantees that Arch Manning’s coming out after next year. It sounds like he certainly could be staying beyond next year,” Schefter noted, via the New York Post.
“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.”
Manning’s uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, both left Tennessee and Ole Miss after their senior years, respectively.
Also, Arch Manning’s NIL valuation sits at $6.6 million, according to On3.
Manning has backed up Ewers the last two seasons and will be the Longhorns’ expected starter going into the 2025 college football season with Ewers entering the draft. Manning has appeared in 12 games during that time, including two starts when Ewers was injured, throwing for 969 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions with a 66.3 completion percentage. He’s also rushed for 115 yards and another four scores.
If Manning does enter the 2026 NFL Draft, he would be the presumed No. 1 overall pick, but this could change if he has a down season.
