On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Even before Arch Manning takes over as the Texas Longhorns' starting quarterback, the NFL hype surrounding him is already astronomical.
That's bound to happen when he's the nephew of Peyton and Eli and grandson of Archie, but even though his name is the main reason for his hype, it's not the only one.
For one, Manning was the top recruit in the 2023 class, receiving a near perfect rating from all the major recruiting outlets. For two, he has looked pretty good at Texas so far, even though that sample size is obviously very small.
For those reasons and more, Manning is widely seen as the favorite to go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft, whenever he decides to enter it. The question is: how desperate will teams be to land him?
Mike Sando of The Athletic (premium content) recently spoke with anonymous NFL executives about teams' free agency moves this offseason, and when the Cleveland Browns came up, one executive pondered if there might be "a temptation to suck" for Manning. In other words, wondering if teams would intentionally tank for a better chance at landing Manning.
The Browns are in a rough spot at the quarterback position. Their trade for Deshaun Watson in 2022 has proven to be a complete disaster, as he's barely played in the three years since and has been awful even when he has played. Right now, their projected starter for next season - Watson could miss most or all of the season after tearing his Achilles again - is Kenny Pickett, who threw a grand total of 42 passes last season.
Cleveland does have the No. 2 overall pick in this month's draft, but it may not make sense to take a quarterback there. If the Tennessee Titans take Miami's Cam Ward at No. 1 overall, which feels pretty likely at this point, then the Browns would likely have to reach for Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 2. As Sando's article revealed, many executives aren't convinced they'll do that.
If the Browns do decide to tank in hopes of landing Manning, though, they're taking a severe risk. There's no guarantee whatsoever that Manning enters the draft in 2026, as he could easily stay at Texas for another year and come out in 2027. Not to mention, they could easily incur the wrath of the league if they aren't careful.
It's an intriguing possibility, but until there's more certainty on Manning's future, it's hard to see any team actively try and lose for him.
More must-reads:
- Matt Campbell finalizes program-friendly contract extension with Iowa State
- Major college football coach says athletes, society 'softer'
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Bill Belichick Offers Unique Challenge For Wolfpack
The NC state Wolfpack and the UNC Tar Heels have an extensive Rivalry in the ACC. Respectively, both teams have a long history. The North Carolina Tar Heels lead the all-time series against NC State, with UNC leading with 68-40-6 advantage. However, NC State has dominated over the UNC Tar Heels for the past 4 years. The NC State players are not just aiming for a win; they are determined to secure their fifth consecutive victory over the Tar Heels. Rivalry History The annual UNC NC State matchup is considered North Carolina’s biggest college football game, often played over Thanksgiving week. Despite UNC’s overall series lead, recent years have shown that NC State can change the Wolfpack's standing in the rivalry, particularly with their success in Chapel Hill. The rivalry between the two teams has a historic start and series record, beginning in 1894 with a 44–0 UNC win. As of the end of the 2024 season, UNC leads the all-time series 68–40–6, maintaining historical dominance despite recent shifts, with NC State having a four-year winning streak over the Tar Heels. UNC and NC State have played annually. UNC holds a narrow lead, 37–35, reflecting a mostly even balance. Starting in the 2000s, NC State flipped the rivalry’s tone, winning 16 of the last 25 meetings and establishing itself as the stronger program in recent seasons. NC State is riding a four-game win streak over UNC, including dramatic victories like the 2021 comeback and a 35–30 win in Chapel Hill in 2024, showcasing consistent late-season execution. The 2024 matchup not only extended NC State’s streak but also marked the final game of Mack Brown’s coaching career, cementing NC State’s current dominance and deepening the rivalry’s emotional impact for both fan bases. NC State vs UNC: What To Expect For 2025 New Era for UNC under Bill Belichick. The former NFL coach and legend takes over the UNC Tar Heels in 2025, which was big news in college football. UNC has taken an NFL-style approach to player development, discipline, and recruiting, with expectations that Belichick will transform UNC into an ACC contender for the upcoming season NC State has a big season under Dave Doeren. NC State enters 2025 amid mounting pressure after the 2024 season ended with inconsistency and a 6–7 record. Kurt Roper and D.J. Eliot were hired as part of an extensive restructuring by Doeren of the coaching staff, with new offensive and defensive coordinators. NC State's biggest struggle coming into 2025 will be their development on defense with an extensive amount of transfers, with only a few returners on their defensive line. Will this put the NC state at a disadvantage against Bill Belichick? The 2025 meeting between the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack will be more than just a game. It's a struggle for pride, legacy, and the future of North Carolina football. The Tar Heels are kicking off a new era under Bill Belichick, and the Wolfpack are trying to make history with their fifth straight win.
Oklahoma Sooners freshman star of the future turning heads with starters in fall camp thanks to sudden opportunity
Steelers Spark Crazy Trade Rumors After Cowboys' Micah Parsons' Prior Comments Resurface
Khan has openly said he will never pass up the chance to explore opportunities that could improve the team. On Friday, news broke that Parsons requested a trade out of Dallas. While the possibility of landing Parsons remains a long shot, this request provides Khan with a rare window to investigate whether there’s a way to bring one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers to Pittsburgh. Earlier in February 2025, Parsons spoke with former Steelers cornerback turned analyst Bryant McFadden about the Steelers. During the conversation, McFadden joked that the Steelers logo would look good on Parsons. Parsons responded playfully, saying he would love to play for Mike Tomlin, adding fuel to the speculation that a move to Pittsburgh might not be completely out of the question. "Nah, I rock with the Steelers," Parsons said. "I said if I ever return home it was going to be Pittsburgh. I mess with Mike Tomlin the long way." It’s no secret that Tomlin is one of the most popular head coaches in the NFL. Many players have expressed a strong desire to play for him, and that reputation has sometimes helped the Steelers attract top talent. A prime example of this is when the Steelers convinced four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers to join the team, a move that energized the fanbase and boosted expectations. The idea of Parsons lining up alongside TJ Watt and the rest of Pittsburgh’s elite defense is both thrilling and intimidating. While it remains a very far-fetched possibility, Parsons’ recent comments about wanting to play for the Steelers have sparked excitement among fans. These remarks, made in 2025, add fuel to the speculation that a trade could be in the cards, even if the odds are slim. Parsons, who grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, shared a message on social media Friday explaining what really led to his trade request. If Parsons has any influence over his next destination, and if Khan can work his magic, the Steelers might just have a slim but real chance to pull off a trade. Landing Parsons would instantly make Pittsburgh’s defense one of the most fearsome in NFL history, though it remains an ambitious long shot. Steelers Chances Of Trading For Micah Parsons Are Low While the thought of Parsons playing in the black and gold for the 2025 season is certainly exciting, the logistics would be very complex, though not impossible. Parsons is clearly unhappy with the Cowboys, and Jerry Jones has not helped their chances of keeping him satisfied. He officially wants out, and now is the time for Khan to see if there’s any logical way to pull off a crazy trade.
Brewers Tried Bringing All-Star Slugger To Milwaukee: Report
The Milwaukee Brewers may not have added a big bat ahead of the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline, but it sounds like it wasn't from a lack of trying, at the very least. As the trade deadline approached, rumors swirled about various sluggers. The two that popped up the most when it came to the Brewers were Ryan O'Hearn, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles. Former Arizona Diamondbacks star Eugenio Suárez also was mentioned. Suárez was traded to the Seattle Mariners and O'Hearn was dealt to the San Diego Padres. Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Friday that the Brewers at least showed interest in O'Hearn on Friday, although they were unable to get a deal done. "Brewers were involved on O’Hearn today, sources said. But that counts for little, leaving them still without any additions other than Danny Jansen with 90 minutes to go," Hogg reported on Friday. O'Hearn would've been a solid pickup because of the fact that he has launched 13 homers and has driven in 43 runs this season. While this is the case, Milwaukee missed out. Positionally, there would've been some question marks, but that doesn't matter any longer. Now, the deadline is behind us and there's no need to think about or worry about what could'be been. This is a contender as is. It would've been nice to land someone like O'Hearn, but Milwaukee still has a 64-44 despite the offensive questions.
Yankees' trade-deadline whirlwind may not be enough to win AL East
It was a busy trade deadline for the New York Yankees, who added Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Austin Slater, José Caballero and Jake Bird (and Wilberson De Pena in rookie ball, if we want to get technical). Having done his part, Brian Cashman, the weary Yankee general manager, can lay his phone down and take a breather without negotiating something. The Yankees are, without a doubt, a much better team. But this raises an overlooked question: are they good enough? The Yankees lag the Blue Jays in the AL East by 3.5 games entering Friday. New York doesn’t necessarily need to win the division, as they seem to be bound for the postseason either way. However, they will likely need to face the Jays once they get there, and their 3-7 record against Toronto this season doesn’t bode well for them. How do the Yankees stack up after the deadline? McMahon has been a marvelous addition since he arrived in the Bronx. Rosario, who will presumably be used in place of McMahon when facing southpaws, can be an impact bat on those occasions. Both Doval and Bednar will be very helpful in lowering the temperature in the Yankees’ bullpen dumpster fire, which owns a 4.19 cumulative ERA entering Friday, before any of the recently traded arms could make their pinstripe debuts. But beyond these four (two of which will be platooned), the others are only marginal improvements. *Caballero’s 34 stolen bases are the most in the game this year. His 44 last year were the most in the AL. While no one can deny the Yankees’ roster has gotten stronger, Cashman failed to address the rotation, which has been plagued by inconsistent performances and pummeled by injuries. The team has also released Marcus Stroman in hopes that Luis Gil (will return on Sunday) and Ryan Yarbrough (expected to be back in August) can be as productive as they had been before their respective injuries (for Gil, that’s 2024). Meanwhile, in Toronto, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins wasn’t idle when it came to bolstering the rotation. Atkins was able to land former AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber from the Guardians, among other moves. Bieber is yet to pitch this year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he is well on his way back, having made four rehab starts. If he can be a productive arm this year, this could easily add to the Yankees’ misery. The fact remains, if the Yankees are going to topple the Blue Jays (in the division, postseason or both), they will need a much higher level of reliability from their questionable rotation.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
