The 2025 NFL Draft just wrapped up, but the college football world is already buzzing about next year’s event. Fans are building early mock drafts and listing their top prospects, with Texas Longhorns’ rising QB Arch Manning often landing in the No. 1 spot.
However, not everyone is convinced that Manning deserves the top ranking. One AFC college scouting director expressed doubts, noting that while Manning has impressive speed, he hasn’t run the offense with consistent success. This has led to growing skepticism about his status as next year’s top NFL Draft prospect.
AFC College Scouting Director Questions Arch Manning’s Readiness for No. 1 Pick
Many have viewed Arch Manning, who carries the renowned Manning family name, as the next big football star. His talent, combined with his family’s legacy, has led many to believe he will be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. But according to some football experts, there are several concerns people seem to ignore when discussing the 21-year-old quarterback.
Manning only played in two games last season and hasn’t yet proven he can lead an offense at a high level. This year, he will officially start for Texas, but no one truly knows how strong his support system is or whether he can handle the pressure of being a top quarterback in the orange jersey.
One scouting director pointed out that people are often impressed by his last name and speed. However, the reality is that he hasn’t consistently run an offense at a high level. “They’re almost surprised with that last name that he has that speed. He gets transformed into this elite prospect. The reality is we haven’t really seen him run the offense with any consistency yet,” the director said.
Yikes: An AFC college scouting director has his doubts about Texas QB Arch Manning who many see as the No. 1 pick in 2026:
“They’re almost surprised with that last name that he has that speed. He gets transformed into this elite prospect. The reality is we haven’t really seen… pic.twitter.com/zs5EdnMju0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 5, 2025
Following that, NFL analyst Albert Breer said that Manning may not enter the NFL until 2027 or even 2028. Both he and the scouting director have strong reasons to think that way.
Moreover, the 2026 draft class is already loaded with talented quarterbacks like Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, and LaNorris Sellers. Arch Manning, the grandson of Archie Manning, should be among those top picks, but right now, that seems very uncertain.
And here comes the second question. Texas recently brought in quarterback Matthew Caldwell through the transfer portal. Caldwell, who previously played for Troy, brings valuable experience to the Longhorns’ quarterback room. But if Texas truly believes in Manning, why did they add another quarterback?
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It’s a fair concern. For now, we all hope Manning proves the doubters wrong and becomes the top prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, with all the uncertainty surrounding Texas, it no longer feels like a sure thing that he’ll end up as the No. 1 pick next year.
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