Texas Longhorns lose Arch Manning and defensive captain in way-too-early 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals was no small accomplishment for the Texas Longhorns. Even though hopes were high that Texas would win the first 12-team Playoff, Steve Sarkisian's Texas program represented itself well. If the 2026 NFL Mock Draft from our own Travis May is a predictor of how the Longhorns do, then the 2025 season will also have gone well.

May projected how the top 32 picks could go in the 2026 NFL Draft, a daunting task considering we're still bracing for how this offseason will play out. But why not have some fun? Our draft projections hit with about an 80% rate from 2023 to the 2024 draft, so identifying talent isn't as hard as it is projecting it.

Here are the Texas stars who were featured in our first 2026 NFL Mock Draft.

Arch Manning, QB

Most 2026 mock drafts will have Arch Manning going No. 1 overall, but May has Manning landing eighth. The audacity! But there's more than some logic at play here, even if Manning is the odds-on favorite to be taken first. 

Manning finds his way to New Orleans, pairing with his grandfather's franchise in a poetic way. This is also more about Manning's lack of experience and the fact he's unlikely to be in this class at all. Manning has repeatedly said he wants to play four seasons at Texas, and leaving after 2026 would mean he bailed one year early.

Here's May's analysis:

Arch Manning at 8? He should automatically go first overall, right? Wrong. The truth is that the Manning crew has made it quite clear that Arch quite likely will not be entering the 2026 NFL Draft. There's no reason to rush and force his development. However, even if he puts up a good season he'll still only have one full year starting, so despite his last name Arch Manning would be a bit more of a projection than most first round quarterback picks.

But does he have the talent to be an early first round quarterback? Absolutely. Arch Manning was a five star recruit for reason, with far superior athleticism when compared to both of his uncles, Eli and Peyton (as you can see in the post below). He flashed some of that ability last fall already. If he does somehow declare in 2026 after a strong 2025 campaign the Saints would be insane not to select the grandson of Archie Manning, who spent 10+ seasons playing QB in New Orleans.

Anthony Hill Jr., LB

Texas' defensive captain and leading tackler from 2024 is not a surprising 2026 prospective prospect. The athletic Anthony Hill Jr. tallied 113 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in one of the most impressive seasons we've seen from an inside linebacker in recent years. Add his impressive 6-foot-3 and 235-pound frame, and you have a tremendous prospect. 

The Dallas Cowboys grabbed Hill 13th overall, pairing him with explosive pass-rusher Micah Parsons.

Anthony Hill Jr. won Freshman All-American honors in 2023 and only leveled up from there in 2024. He'll enter 2025 as one of the favorites to win the Butkus Award for the nation's best linebacker who can do it all. The Cowboys already need better linebacker play right now, but unless they address something soon, the position might be priority number one in 2026 and Micah Parsons has already said he wants to play with Hill.

Malik Muhammad, CB

One reason Texas was a favorite to win the College Football Playoff and would've if not for a buzzsaw Ohio State team was their excellent defense. Malik Muhammad was a headlining member of a secondary that had speed, physicality, and ball skills. The 6-foot, 190-pounder finds a home in Baltimore and replaces a franchise legend.

The Ravens don't need a corner in 2025. However, by 2026 Marlon Humphrey's massive contract will be in its final year, and cornerback depth disappears after he and Nate Wiggins. Malik Muhammad was already a star opposite Jahdae Barron in 2024 for the Texas Longhorns, but he should be the leader and the face of the secondary this season. If Muhammad just gets rid of his 2-3 explosive plays allowed per year he's a Top 40 pick.