Draft guru assesses whether Arch Manning is the real deal

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) prior to the game against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Draft guru assesses whether Texas QB Arch Manning is the real deal

By Clark Dalton | Last updated May 19, 2025 6:47 PM ET

On Monday, The Ringer's Todd McShay dropped his first scouting report on Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.

The longtime draft guru isn't ready to list the Texas QB as a potential No. 1 pick. However, he believes he has the gifts to become a star, like his uncles, Peyton and Eli, both Super Bowl-winning QBs.

"I'm not saying he's Lamar Jackson as a runner or that he has Josh Allen's arm, but Arch is tooled up," McShay wrote. "His combination of prototypical size, mobility, an excellent release and his natural accuracy — it's all there for him to be a great player."

Arch Manning (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) replaced QB Quinn Ewers (now with the Miami Dolphins) after he suffered an oblique injury in a 56-7 Week 3 win over the UTSA Roadrunners. Against the Roadrunners, he threw four touchdowns and rushed for a 67-yard score.

ARCH MANNING TAKES IT 67 YARDS TO THE HOUSE WITH HIS LEGS

It's the longest rush by a Texas QB since Vince Young in 2005. pic.twitter.com/AjU9uSli2c
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 15, 2024

Arch Manning started the Longhorns' next two games against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He won both starts, completing 68.3% of his passes for 583 yards and four touchdown passes.

He still has room for growth. Against the Warhawks, he threw two interceptions. He also lost a fumble when he briefly replaced Ewers in a 30-15 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 19.

McShay, however, noted Arch Manning made fewer mistakes the more he played, imperative for a QB.

"That points to a guy who's hungry and coachable," wrote McShay. "Factor in his combination of raw talent, family background and elite quarterback coaching in the form of Steve Sarkisian, and Arch is in as good a position to succeed as any QB prospect in recent memory."

Arch Manning is a redshirt freshman. While he could declare for the NFL Draft after the 2025 season, ESPN's Field Yates has said his sources expect him to stay with the Longhorns for at least two more seasons.

Still, some will hail Arch Manning as a potential No. 1 pick if he becomes a Heisman contender, which he may have the skills to do.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: