Arch Manning Ranked Fifth Among 2027 NFL Draft Quarterbacks Amidst Scrutiny
An AFC executive questions 'blind faith' in the highly-touted prospect, while acknowledging his potential.
Arch Manning, the Texas Longhorns quarterback and nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, has been ranked fifth among quarterbacks eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft by ESPN. Despite his pedigree, an AFC assistant general manager expressed skepticism regarding the widespread confidence in his potential, suggesting it may be driven by his famous last name.
"What’s giving so many people this blind faith that there’s just this monstrous ceiling with him?" the executive questioned. "Maybe this current state is just who he really is as a prospect."
Manning's college career has shown flashes of talent, but he has yet to consistently meet the astronomical expectations set by his family's NFL success. In the 2025 season, he threw for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games. This current season, he has recorded 862 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions for the undefeated Longhorns, including a significant fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State.
As NFL teams begin their extensive scouting for the 2027 draft, every performance by Manning and other top quarterback prospects will be closely scrutinized. An AFC scout acknowledged that Manning might be a player teams "fall in love with" down the line, but cautioned against premature judgment.
"He’s always be graded on a different scale because of the name," the scout told ESPN. "…I don’t think he’s the best in the class, but his flashes in games are fascinating and a preview of what could happen down the road."
Manning is part of a highly anticipated 2027 draft class, which also features other highly ranked quarterbacks such as Drew Mestemaker of Oklahoma State, Darian Mensah of Miami, Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss, and CJ Carr of Notre Dame.
Manning has an opportunity to further solidify his draft stock in the coming weeks, as Texas faces a challenging schedule against five consecutive ranked opponents following their matchup against Oklahoma. The Longhorns are slated to play No. 16 Florida, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 17 Mississippi State, No. 14 Missouri, and No. 10 LSU.