Analyst explains why Texas' Arch Manning isn't the best QB prospect

Quarterback Arch Manning has helped make the Texas Longhorns the No. 1 college football team in the country, and that's no small task. But that also doesn't mean he's automatically going to be drafted as the first quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Ahead of college football's Week 6 games, ESPN has released its super-early 2027 NFL QB draft rankings, and they actually have him at No. 5. It's not that Manning isn't doing well, but there's a big question looming over him as the season continues.

On Saturday, Texas goes up against the Oklahoma Sooners, so that will be something to watch.

Arch Manning has work to do on his passing accuracy

The big question is whether Manning can become a more consistent passer, particularly with his accuracy, ball placement and ability to work through progressions instead of locking onto his first read.

"His 9.8% off-target percentage (58th) ranks near the middle of the pack in the FBS, and his lack of ball placement puts extra stress on pass catchers," Jordan Reid of ESPN notes in the feature.

Reid also makes the point that "Manning has moments when he makes the hard throws look routine, and the routine throws seem way too hard."

"What's giving so many people this blind faith that there's just this monstrous ceiling with him?" an AFC assistant GM said, according to Reid. "Maybe this current state is just who he really is as a prospect."

So, Manning has some work to do. But Reid also notes that whichever NFL team drafts him could look at him as someone who could be a great quarterback down the road, just not in his rookie year.