Arch Manning Receives 0 Votes as QB1 in 2026 NFL Draft in New Poll of Scouts, Execs

Texas' Arch Manning was not among those who received a vote in the latest poll of 25 anonymous NFL scouts and executives this week regarding who will be the first quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza leads the way with 13 votes, followed by Oregon's Dante Moore with six and Alabama's Ty Simpson with three. Oklahoma's John Mateer, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby received one vote each as well.

When the first poll was conducted six weeks ago, Sellers led the way with eight votes, followed by LSU's Garrett Nussmeier with seven.

Manning was one of five other quarterbacks receiving votes at that time, but even then he got only one vote.

Entering the 2025 college football season, Manning was the Heisman Trophy favorite and considered likely to be the top pick in the draft whether he declared in 2026 or 2027.

The nephew or legendary NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, and the grandson of longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, Arch has the ideal pedigree for a signal-caller.

He was the backup to Quinn Ewers over his first two seasons at Texas, but Manning started two games last season when Ewers was out due to injury, and he impressed.

Every indication suggested Manning would transition seamlessly into the starting job, but that hasn't necessarily been the case.

The Longhorns began the season as the No. 1 team in the nation, but right now they are 11th in the College Football Playoff rankings with a 7-2 record.

Texas began the season with a 14-7 road loss to reigning national champion Ohio State, and both Manning and the offense as a whole looked listless in that game.

Manning's overall numbers this season perhaps aren't as gaudy as most expected, but they aren't terrible either. He is completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 2,123 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 203 yards and six scores.

He has been especially good over the past two games, throwing for a total of 674 yards, six touchdowns and one pick in wins over Mississippi State and then-No. 9 Vanderbilt.

Texas has a tough schedule to end the regular season with games against No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 15 and No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28.

If Manning plays well in those games, leading Texas to victories and into the CFP, it is possible the narrative surrounding him could change significantly over the next month.

However, even if that happens, it is far from guaranteed that he will enter the 2026 NFL draft, as a second year as a starter at the collegiate level could help his development in a major way.