Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) takes the field before the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Playoff First Round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Relative of four-time NFL MVP questions Arch Manning hype

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 5:56 PM ET

Arch Manning is already hailed as a Heisman candidate, but the relative of a future Pro Football Hall of Famer wants to lower expectations for the Texas Longhorns quarterback.

On a Monday episode of ESPN's "Get Up," Jordan Rodgers — the younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron, a four-time MVP — said he has Manning as his fifth-best QB in the SEC heading into the 2025 season.

"Look, I love Arch," Jordan Rodgers said. "I think he has a very high floor. But I don't think he's an elite talent when it comes to his arm, his arm ability, his ability to manipulate the pocket, to make guys miss and to change his arm angle."

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What does Jordan Rodgers have against Manning, who is also part of a football family? The 21-year-old is the nephew of Peyton and Eli, who have combined for four Super Bowl victories during their careers.

Perhaps he feels it's unwise to hype Arch Manning (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), despite a small sample size. In his first two seasons with the Longhorns, he has attempted just 95 passes.

Last season, he threw for nine touchdown passes and 939 yards in 10 games. However, most of that production came against the UTSA Roadrunners, Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks and Mississippi State Bulldogs. None of those teams won more than seven games last season.

Jordan Rodgers questioning Arch Manning's arm strength, though, seems head-scratching. It's probably one of the first traits that stand out.

He threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. in a 35-13 win over the Bulldogs last season. He also averaged 10.4 yards per pass attempt. For context, former Ole Miss Rebels QB Jaxson Dart (now with the New York Giants) led the FBS in yards per pass attempt (10.8) in 13 games last season.

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"His combination of prototypical size, mobility, excellent release, and natural accuracy — it's all there for him to be a great player," The Ringer's Todd McShay wrote of Arch Manning in his May scouting report.

It's fair to wonder how quickly Arch Manning will develop, given his inexperience, but don't buy Jordan Rodgers' assessment of his physical tools. He clearly has a high ceiling.

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.

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