NFL Scouting Director Pumps the Brakes on Texas QB Arch Manning Hype

The Texas Longhorns are entering the 2025 college football season with Arch Manning as their clear-cut starting quarterback. Despite not being a full-time starter yet at the college level, Manning is already being labeled as the clear No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft if he chooses to come out of college.

Manning showed flashes of big-time potential during the playing time he received in 2024. There is no question that he has the talent to become something special.

However, the hype has far exceeded what his potential could be. Some of that has to do with the fact that Peyton Manning and Eli Manning are his uncles, but the NFL may not see the young Texas quarterback the same way.

Albert Breer, an NFL insider for Sports Illustrated, shared a quote from an AFC college scouting director that pumps the brakes on the Manning hype.

“You just don’t know until they’re really playing,” said another AFC college scouting director. “Right now, the body of work is too small. We’ve seen big guys with talent, the tools, the arm, that don’t know how to process, and don’t have the accuracy to all levels of the field consistently enough. What we have on [Manning] isn’t nearly enough. You could guess, but that’s really all you’ll be doing—guessing.”

That isn't to say that Manning can't become what he's being hyped up to be, but he needs to prove it on the field as a full-time starter.