NFL GM Says Arch Manning Won't 'Rush' NFL Draft Choice, Will Wait for Ideal Situation

Texas quarterback Arch Manning may draw heavy consideration as the No. 1 overall pick should he decide to enter the 2026 NFL draft, but that is reportedly far from a guarantee.

Speaking anonymously to ESPN this week, an NFL general manager commented on Manning's immediate future, saying: "The situation is going to matter. With NIL money and his family situation, there is no rush to get to the league. So, they'll wait and see what the environment is before making a decision."

The comment comes as little surprise since rumors have swirled for quite some time that Manning may not jump to the NFL the first chance he gets.

Back in April, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said during an appearance on Get Up that it sounds like Manning "could be staying [at Texas] beyond next year."

Schefter added that Arch's grandfather Archie and uncles Peyton and Eli didn't declare early for the draft, and Arch may have even more incentive to stay than they did thanks to the NIL money he can make.

Archie seemed to back up that narrative this week when he told Texas Monthly (h/t Jeff Hauser of Athlon Sports) that Arch "isn't going to" declare for the draft early, and will "be at Texas" in 2026.

Despite being the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports, Manning sat and learned behind Quinn Ewers over his first two seasons at Texas.

After barely playing as a freshman, Manning appeared in 10 games last season and made two starts when Ewers was out with an injury.

Manning won both of his starts, and overall last season, he completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, while also rushing for 108 yards and four touchdowns.

With Ewers moving on to the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, the Texas offense finally belongs to Manning, and the Longhorns enter the 2025 season as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation as a result.

Playing under an offensive guru in Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, all the pieces are in place for Manning to have a spectacular season and potentially contend for the Heisman Trophy.

Teams will be champing at the bit to take Manning early in the 2026 NFL draft should that happen, but it sounds like Manning's decision on whether to declare early or not could come down to who has the No. 1 overall pick.

Although this is pure speculation, perhaps he would be more willing to enter the draft in 2026 if the New Orleans Saints pick first rather than a team like the Cleveland Browns.

Archie Manning played for the Saints and Arch is from New Orleans, so the Saints would represent a homecoming for him.

Given the Saints' messy quarterback situation currently, there is a distinct possibility they end up being the worst team in the NFL in 2025.

If that turns out to be the case, it could make Manning's decision on whether to enter the draft or return to school far more difficult and intriguing.