The 2026 NFL Draft is over, but scouts are already looking ahead to a deep 2027 class, headlined by Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.
As of Monday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Manning — the nephew of Super Bowl champions Peyton and Eli and grandson of 1971 No. 2 pick Archie — as the favorite to go No. 1 overall (+165) in 2027. Tankathon also has the Miami Dolphins taking him with pick No. 1 in its way-too-early mock draft.
Arch Manning (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) could be poised to break out after his noticeable improvement during the second half of the 2025 season. Still, let’s tap the brakes on the early hype.
Why it’s wise not to jump on the Arch Manning hype train yet
Over the last two drafts, a QB who wasn’t hailed as a potential top pick has gone No. 1 overall.
In 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza after a storybook season, in which he won the Heisman and led the school to its first national championship. He wasn’t considered the top passer during the preseason. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates listed him as their No. 6 QB in August 2025.
Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward, pick No. 1 of the 2025 draft, didn’t receive much attention, either. Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski didn’t list the former Miami Hurricanes star in his first mock draft that cycle. He had the New York Giants taking former Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck with pick No. 1.
Boy, did that age poorly. Beck transferred to Miami following the 2024 season and went No. 65 overall to the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2026 draft.
Now, that doesn’t mean Arch Manning will follow a similar path to Beck’s. He’s clearly a much more talented prospect after tallying 4,650 yards (4,132 passing, 514 rushing) and 50 TDs (35 passing, 14 rushing and one receiving) in three seasons with Texas.
