The 2026 NFL Draft quarterback class looks to be as loaded as we’ve ever seen with a number of prospects set to battle to be the first player taken while also competing for the Heisman TrophyArch Manning will compete to win the Heisman Trophy in his first year of starting

Peyton Manning says his nephew Arch Manning is one of three quarterbacks he expects to star in the upcoming college football season.

The 2026 NFL Draft class looks to be an unpredictable one, but one that could be dominated by quarterbacks with as many as 10 prospects who have a good chance of being a first-round pick if they impress.

The class undoubtedly will be headlined by Arch, the nephew of both Peyton and Eli Manning, who was a five-star recruit out of high school. Arch is set to start for the first time this year after Quinn Ewers moved on to the NFL Draft, turning down millions in NIL offers to transfer and instead falling all the way to the seventh round to the Miami Dolphins.

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While the likes of PFF ranked Manning as low as the 50th best prospect in college football, Peyton believes him to be one of the most impressive passers in the NCAA.

Speaking at his quarterback camp this past week, Peyton said: “I’m excited to watch Arch play. He threw the ball really well at the camp.

“He and Garrett Nussmeier at our three throwing expeditions really threw the ball well — all the quarterbacks throw the ball well. It’s impressive.

Arch is the nephew of legendary quarterback Peyton Manning

“They make throws that I can’t even think about making. Arch made a throw the other day that I’d have to hit the cutoff man to get the ball to the actual receiver.”

Manning went on to mention that LaNorris Sellers, Mirror US Sports’ No. 1 quarterback heading into the new season, as the other quarterback whom he believes to have the most talent that he’s seen out of the group.

Arch is currently the favorite to be drafted with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, followed by Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar.

Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) will be among those challenging Manning to be the first player taken in the draft

Manning and Nussmeier also will contend with Cade Klubnik, whose Clemson Tigers are among the favorites to win a national championship this year.

The likes of John Mateer, Nico Iamaleava, Fernando Mendoza, Sam Leavitt, Aidan Chiles and Carson Beck will all feel confident that they can get into first-round contention with a strong 2025 season.

Manning looks set to be reliant on freshman players in his first full season as a Texas’ starter, with a number of their players leaving for the NFL along with Ewers this past year.

Texas’ season officially begins on Aug. 30, when the Longhorns face defending champions Ohio State in what could be a brutal first game for Manning’s career as QB1.

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