Arch Manning Reportedly Expected by Scouts to Skip 2026 NFL Draft to Stay at Texas

Having struggled through his first three starts this season, the feeling among NFL scouts right now is that Arch Manning will opt to return to stay at Texas in 2026 rather than enter the draft.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, several scouts within the NFL expect Manning to go back to college because of his slow start this season.

"He's very talented," one scout said. "Just from top-to-bottom, arm talent. Just understanding in the pocket and seeing the field and feeling the field. You see his arm strength. He just needs to get everything under control and for the game to slow down."

Even before the start of this season, there was talk about what Manning might do in 2026.

Archie Manning, Arch's grandfather, told S.C. Gwynne of Texas Monthly in August that his grandson would be back with the Longhorns next season.

"Arch isn't going to do that," Archie said. "He'll be at Texas (in 2026)."

Despite Archie's confidence, Arch pushed back by saying he didn't know why his grandfather would say that and he was "taking it day by day right now."

It's understandable why there would be a lot of NFL attention on Manning despite playing behind Quinn Ewers in his first two years at Texas. His last name is part of a deep lineage of successful pro quarterbacks and he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation coming out of high school in 2023.

However, the start of this season for Manning has left a lot to be desired. The 21-year-old has 579 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions in three games. He got booed at one point by the home crowd in the first half of Texas' 27-10 win over UTEP on Sept. 13 during a streak of 10 straight incomplete passes.

There has been speculation that Manning might be dealing with a shoulder injury, though NFL draft insider Todd McShay reported on Thursday there is "nothing wrong" physically with the third-year quarterback.

As tantalizing as Manning's tools are for NFL teams to dream about what he might become, it's hard to envision him making the leap to face that level of competition in one year based on how he is playing in college right now.

Stranger things have happened, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Manning starting 2026 wearing a burnt orange and white jersey.