Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning still has a lot to prove in college football, but fans are already curious about where the star could land in the NFL.
Manning is not eligible to turn pro until the 2026 NFL draft. Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling took an early look at potential landing spots that could be a fit for Manning. The Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are among the NFL teams that Easterling discussed. There is another NFC South team that could be a potential fit down the road. Keep in mind, teams that are in search of a quarterback in 2025 are likely out of the running to land Manning in 2026.
Draft Countdown’s Shane Hallam released an early 2026 NFL mock draft and has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting Manning with the No. 4 pick. It is an interesting fit given the Bucs already have Baker Mayfield on the roster. Mayfield’s three-year, $100 million contract runs through the 2026 season.
There is a reasonable scenario where Tampa Bay could draft Manning to sit behind Mayfield for one season. Manning still has a lot to prove before warranting a top-five NFL draft pick. The Longhorns quarterback has only played in seven college football games. It will be worth watching how Manning performs once current Texas QB1 Quinn Ewers eventually heads to the NFL.
Given the Manning family pedigree, there will be no shortage of interest in the quarterback from NFL teams.
