Arch Manning Predicted to Skip 2026 NFL Draft, Stay at Texas by Browns' Jimmy Haslam

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam believes NFL teams will have to wait until at least 2027 to draft Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

"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," Haslam said when asked about the possibility Manning could be available in the 2026 NFL draft at the 3:45 mark of Tuesday's press conference. "I don't even think that's worth discussing."

Manning is heading into his first season as Texas' projected starter after spending two seasons backing up Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Haslam's comments came the week after ESPN Cleveland's Tony Rizzo speculated that the Browns' decision to acquire an additional 2026 first-round pick in part because of Haslam's interest in Manning.

Rizzo connected Haslam's family history of donations to Tennessee, and what Haslam has previously described as a "close" friendship with the Manning family, with the Browns' decision to trade the No. 2 pick of the 2025 draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a package including a 2026 first-rounder.

"I don’t think it’s a coincidence they acquired a second first-round pick... It was described to me by a billionaire that said, 'In a perfect world, that guy would be in Cleveland next year. And they would do anything to get him,'" Rizzo said on a July 21 episode of ESPN Cleveland.

But Manning's playing time has been limited by his previous placement behind Ewers on the Longhorns' depth chart.

The 21-year-old has totaled just 95 pass attempts through two seasons at Texas, so even a full season under center would leave Ewers with a relatively small NCAA sample size before entering the pros.

Given former Florida star Anthony Richardson's struggles with the Indianapolis Colts after totaling fewer than 400 pass attempts in college, Manning could ultimately decide to stick around for a second season as starter before making the jump to the NFL.

Given the uncertainty surrounding the Browns' current four-way quarterback battle between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, there is still a chance Haslam's franchise could be in the market for Manning even if he waits another year to go pro.