One assistant normal supervisor in the NFL isn’t shopping for the hype with Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, was listed at No. 5 in ESPN’s up to date quarterback rankings for the 2027 NFL Draft, with an nameless AFC exec questioning why Manning creates “this blind faith.”
“What’s giving so many people this blind faith that there’s just this monstrous ceiling with him?” the assistant normal supervisor said. “Maybe this current state is just who he really is as a prospect.”
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) passes against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Manning, who returned to Texas for his redshirt junior season after an underwhelming 2025, has the Longhorns ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 at 4-0 getting into their showdown against Florida on Saturday.
He has gone 73-for-115 — throwing for seven touchdowns and tossing three interceptions — while amassing 862 passing yards and serving to Texas safe a marquee win over Ohio State earlier in the season.
Manning, given his household’s historical past at the quarterback place, entered Texas with huge expectations and has been projected as one of the prime picks in next 12 months’s draft, and an AFC scout instructed ESPN that they think “someone will fall in love with what he can be in a few years.”
“He’ll always be graded on a different scale because of the name,” the nameless scout instructed the outlet. “… I don’t think he’s the best in the class, but his flashes in games are fascinating and a preview of what could happen down the road.”
But inconsistencies since taking over as Texas’ full-time have made Manning’s draft outlook murky.
In the ESPN rankings, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss and Notre Dame’s CJ Carr were all ranked forward of Manning — with the outlet citing his excessive time-to-throw quantity (2.95 seconds) and his off-target share (9.8 %) as criticism.
Arch Manning (16) of the Texas Longhorns is tackled by Qua Moss (6) of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of a faculty soccer sport at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Getty Images
Manning’s next probability to enhance his draft inventory will unfold Saturday, when Texas hosts No. 16 Florida, who was ranked No. 8 before falling by 28 factors to Missouri.
Eli instructed Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” earlier this week that he selfishly hoped that Manning was drafted by the Jets in April, something that’d permit the Giants legend to attend video games and permit for Manning to be close to household.
Earlier this season, Manning was concerned in an off-field controversy when he introduced up an AI-created video of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian — who ended a postgame interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe before taking questions — slapping Rowe.
Manning apologized to Rowe.
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