Arch Manning will enter his fourth season with the Texas Longhorns this year, his second year as a starting quarterback. At the beginning of last season, there was a lot of chatter about Manning entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
After an underwhelming run with the Longhorns, Manning decided to stay with Texas for one more season. Even though he’ll play college football this year, conversations about his NFL destination have already started to emerge.
The Myles Garrett trade is adding more fuel to the discussion. The Cleveland Browns just traded the 30-year-old star defensive end to the Los Angeles Rams. In return, the Browns have received Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick, as per Adam Schefter.
As per analyst Evan Sidery, with this trade, the Browns have positioned themselves in place to sign Manning when he appears in the NFL Draft next year.
“The Browns have officially planted their flag in the Arch Manning tank race alongside the Cardinals and Jets after trading Myles Garrett,” Sidery wrote on X. “The 2026-27 NFL season is shaping up to be an epic race to the bottom to secure the next generational Manning.”
By trading Garrett, the Browns are now worse than they were on paper. Garrett is a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year; he won his second title in 2025. He also made the First-team All-Pro last season, the Pro Bowl, and set the league record in sacks in a season.
With a significantly weaker team on paper and their ongoing struggles at the quarterback position, the Browns will have a higher chance of picking near the top of the 2027 class.
Can the Browns Get Arch Manning Next Year?
There is a possibility that the Browns might be successful with their plan to get Manning in the draft next year. In addition to the Garrett trade, there are other factors that might help them achieve that.
Manning is an early favorite to be the No. 1 pick next year. Even though it’s not confirmed, he is the frontrunner to be the top pick. Cleveland could also be a favorable place for him because of the Browns’ owner, Jimmy Haslam’s, relationship with the Manning family.
Getting the young quarterback could also end their issues at the QB position that they’ve been dealing with for years. As of now, the Browns seem to be on the right track if signing Manning is their primary objective for next year’s draft.
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