“Arch isn’t going to do that. He’ll be at Texas.” — Archie Manning

Since the 2025 NFL Draft ended, speculation about whether Arch Manning would enter the 2026 NFL Draft has swirled. Several mock drafts have predicted Manning will be the No. 1 pick. Several teams have been mentioned as already trying to maneuver to pick Manning in 2026. But the question might be moot if you believe Manning’s famous grandpa Archie.

Archie Manning says he hasn’t talked with Arch about any impending decisions about entering the draft after this season, but he told Texas Monthly he does not anticipate his grandson leaving Texas after starting one year in Austin.

“Arch isn’t going to do that,” Archie told Texas Monthly. “He’ll be at Texas.”

The Manning family has been in lock-step about Arch’s decision making off the field. They supported his choice of Texas and they were fine with Arch sitting two years. It is doubtful anyone from the Manning camp would speculate about Arch’s future without internal knowledge.

The Mannings believe in the long game in regards to quarterback development. Both uncles Peyton and Eli Manning stayed in college for the duration of their eligibility. Both were eventually taken No. 1 overall in the 1998 and 2004 drafts, respectively.

This should also send chills down the spin of any NFL executive that has spent time trying to figure out how to work the next NFL Draft to get in position to select Arch. One team, the Browns, have already moved on in their planning.

“If you know the Manning family, I would bet that — and I don’t know Arch at all, okay — I bet he stays in college two years,” Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said. “I don’t even think that’s worth discussing.”

Manning has completed 63 of 95 passes for 969 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions while mainly serving as a backup to Quinn Ewers in his first two collegiate seasons. Expectations for his third season, his first as the starting, are sky high.

One reason for the speculation and hope Arch will jump to the NFL after this season is the quality of quarterbacks in the 2026 draft. The Rams, for example, only rate one QB that could be in the 2026 NFL Draft as “Tier 1” and that is Arch Manning.

But if you trust Grandpa, the NFL will have to wait two years for Manning. Something Texas fans can get on board with.

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