When Texas quarterback Arch Manning makes himself available for the NFL draft, he’s expected to be one of the first players chosen, if not the No. 1 overall pick. Many expect him to declare for the 2026 draft, even though this season is his first as a full-time starter in the NCAA.
He has played very little to this point in his college career, but the nephew of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning seems to have the basic physical tools and skills to be a serious pro prospect. His Longhorns will take on Ohio State on the road this Saturday, and all eyes across the football world will be on him.
Only time will tell whether he will become a star at the next level or whether he’s merely a flash in the pan. But the speculation has already begun on where he may end up in the NFL, and Bleacher Report analyst Brent Sobleski named a surprising pro fit for Manning: the Denver Broncos.
Sobleski’s reasoning is that Payton Manning had a successful stint with them that resulted in two Super Bowl appearances and one world championship.
“Bo Nix came in as a rookie and helped lead the franchise back to the postseason,” Sobleski wrote. “Obviously, he can regress, but the Broncos aren’t giving up on him anytime soon after being a legitimate NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
“… His presence pretty much rules out any possibility of the Broncos reinvesting in the quarterback position during the next offseason or even the one after depending on when Arch Manning finally declares.
“Even so, Denver has a fascinating setup, with Sean Payton as the seasoned head coach and offensive play-caller. Most quarterbacks would love to play for him considering his past success with the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees.”
Read more: Broncos Linked to Pro Bowl Wide Receiver in 2026 Free Agency
Right now, the notion of Denver pivoting away from Nix is about as laughable as that of the Pro Football Hall of Fame renouncing Peyton Manning’s induction. He threw for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns last year, and he played particularly well down the stretch of the season as Denver surprised many by finishing 10-7.
There is always a chance that Nix’s rookie season turns out to be something of a happy fluke, in which case the Broncos could end up being in the market for a new signal-caller. But for now, everyone in Colorado is excited about his potential moving forward.
There isn’t a good sample space of Arch Manning’s play at this point. But CBS Sports’ Mike Renner detailed why the 21-year-old has scouts so excited.
“When you flip on Arch’s tape, the first thing that jumps out is the standard Manning frame,” Renner wrote. “He’s every bit of the 6-feet-4, 216 pounds he’s listed at with the body habitus to easily work into the 230-pound range if he so chooses. Box ticked.
“The next thing you’ll notice is a decidedly non-standard Manning throwing motion … in a good way. Arch has a noticeably more compact motion than both Eli and Peyton employed over their careers.
“… No one is confusing his arm for Josh Allen’s or Justin Herbert’s, but it’s capable of drive throws 30-plus yards downfield when it needs to. That’s more than enough to operate a full NFL playbook.
“… Arch obviously has a lot of Manning hallmarks to his game, but the biggest thing that stands out from his uncles is his legs. The younger Manning can scoot.”
Read more: Broncos Two-Time Super Bowl Legend Has Bold Prediction for Team
There is a question of when Arch Manning will declare for the draft. His grandfather, former NFL QB Archie Manning, said the Longhorn would be staying in school for the 2026 season, but Arch Manning downplayed that statement and said he’s ‘taking it day by day right now.”
For now, fans and pundits merely want to see him prove that he’s worthy of the hype surrounding him.
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