Manning hype grows with No. 1 pick odds for 2026 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is over, but many are already looking ahead to 2026, when Texas quarterback Arch Manning may be available. 

Manning — the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli — has played sparingly in two seasons at Texas, but that’s not stopping oddsmakers from hailing him as a potential No. 1 pick.  

As of Monday, DraftKings Sportsbook gave Arch Manning the best odds (+200) to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft ahead of Penn State QB Drew Allar (6-foot-5, 238 pounds). 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t rule out the possibility of Manning declaring for the draft on Monday. That said, it’s apparent he would like the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder to stay in Austin for multiple seasons.

“Here’s what I hope. I hope he’s got a really hard decision to make around Jan. 21,” Sarkisian said, via Inside Texas. “That means we played a long time. That means he played a really good season. And that means he’s trying to figure out, do I want one more year in burnt orange, or is it time to go to the NFL? I hope it’s a really hard decision. I hope it’s not a no-brainer to come back to school.” 

Arch Manning filled in for an injured Quinn Ewers (now with the Miami Dolphins) last season. During this span, he went 2-0 in two starts, completing 68.3% of his passes for 583 yards and four touchdown passes.