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Arch Manning Predicted to Replace $240 Million QB

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hunter Hodies | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 8:01 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys are looking for a big bounce-back season in 2025.

They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 this past season and made several changes to their coaching staff. They parted ways with former head coach Mike McCarthy and promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach.

After that, they hired Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator and Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator. They then started to tweak their roster, which included a trade for former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens after the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys feel that a one-two punch of CeeDee Lamb and Pickens will make a big difference this upcoming season. They'll have quarterback Dak Prescott healthy after he missed the second half of the 2024 season with a torn hamstring, but Cam Newton thinks that Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning could replace Prescott if he doesn't perform well.

"If you do not perform this year, that door is going to close. And in comes, drumroll please, Arch Manning," Newton said on his "4th&1" podcast. "If you don't go to that NFC Championship this year, this is your career, bro. Jerry (Jones) is going to do any and everything to spin everything for Arch Manning."

That's a bold statement from Newton since Prescott is under contract through the 2028 season. Prescott agreed to a four-year $240 million extension with the Cowboys last September.

They are still committed to him for the long haul and feel like he is their franchise quarterback.

As for Manning, he is set to be the full-time starter for the Longhorns in 2025. If all goes well, he could find himself in the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the top quarterback prospects.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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