Jimmy Haslam pushes back against idea that Browns are targeting Arch Manning in 2026 NFL Draft: ‘I’d bet he stays in college’

Several teams around the NFL would love to have the chance at drafting Texas QB Arch Manning, not just as a prospect but as the next in his family to make it to the pros. That said, amidst speculation that his franchise was aiming for him in next year’s draft, Jimmy Haslam put a stop to that conversation with how he thinks his career is going to go.

Haslam, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, was asked about Manning at a press conference from training camp on Tuesday. He quickly responded to that topic as he doesn’t even necessarily think Manning will be available anyway for any team to take in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“I think, if you know the Manning family, I would bet that – and I don’t know Arch at all, okay. I bet he stays in college two years,” Haslam said. “So, that’s, I don’t even think that’s worth discussing.”

This is all before Manning ever plays a snap as a full-time starter at the college level for the Longhorns. Even so, many are already expecting him, assuming he has the season that many are thinking he could have, to be in contention to be a top pick come the draft next spring in April.

However, Manning could very well come back for a junior season, his fourth in total, in college. What if he isn’t far and away the quarterback that the hype already suggests he could be this fall, at least not yet? As Haslam noted, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning also spent four full years in college at Tennessee and Ole Miss respectively. Either way, Manning could elect to spend another season playing and developing in the NCAA before making that move to the National Football League.

That would obviously be massive news for Texas while being a likely one-year bummer for teams with quarterback needs in the NFL. Cleveland could be among those franchises considering where their depth chart currently stands at the position with four in total, none of which are right now seen as viable, long-term answers as their starting quarterback, with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett being veterans alongside a pair of rookies in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeuer Sanders.

Still, as far as Manning goes, everyone might be ahead of themselves. That’s with a full season ahead of him to actually play in college before making a decision that, to Haslam, could mean he puts it off for another year when it comes to his future with the NFL.