Could returning to Texas for 2027 finally make Arch Manning a top-five NFL Draft pick?

From Jayden Daniels and Cam Ward to Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck, recent quarterbacks offer lessons about the benefits and risks of staying in school

Arch Manning possesses the physical tools of a top NFL prospect, but his decision-making and inconsistency raise questions about whether he should return to Texas in 2027. For most of his football career, the question surrounding Arch Manning was when he'd enter the NFL Draft, not whether he would be ready once he got there. But five games into the 2026 season, we're having the same conversation we had midway through 2025: should he spend another year at Texas? Coach Steve Sarkisian said in June that he "wouldn't be surprised" if Manning returned for a fifth season in 2027. Earlier this month, uncle Eli Manning told Colin Cowherd that there's value in the college experience beyond simply preparing for the NFL, including opportunities to develop as a quarterback and leader.

There has been no formal announcement, but the possibility raises a question worth exploring (again): Could one more year in college transform Manning into the top-five pick we've been hearing about, this time in the 2028 NFL Draft? He turns 23 in the spring, but despite four years in college, Manning has made just 20 career starts. He could finish 2026 with 27-30, and another season would push him toward 40. The question then becomes: would the additional games make a meaningful difference? History offers reasons for optimism, along with