Where does Arch Manning land on NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest big board?

"I see the size, mobility and arm strength that NFL teams look for in a franchise quarterback," Kiper wrote of the 6-foot-4, 222-pounder. "But Manning is too inconsistent, especially when it comes to accuracy and decision-making. He's going to be a tough evaluation. Watch just about any game he plays, and you'll ride the roller coaster of getting excited about his NFL ceiling and then wondering whether he's ever going to put it together."

Manning's performance in a 27-24 Week 6 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners is a prime example. In the first quarter, he tossed a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cam Coleman that would make scouts beam.

In the fourth quarter, however, he threw two interceptions that would make those same scouts go berserk.

"Texas' Arch Manning hasn't been the disaster that social media would lead you to believe, but he also hasn't developed at the pace NFL teams hoped," wrote The Athletic's Dane Brugler. "Plenty of evaluators around the NFL remain bullish that Manning will get there, but how he performs over the second half of the season will determine a lot."

The second half of the Longhorns season will give talent evaluators a much better idea of where Manning stands in the QB pecking order. It includes plenty of tests for the 22-year-old QB. 

The No. 7-ranked Longhorns (4-1) face four opponents that are currently ranked — No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels (Oct. 24),  No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs (Oct. 31), No. 13 Missouri Tigers (Nov. 7) and No. 22 LSU Tigers (Nov. 14) — in their last seven games. 

Texas hosts the Florida Gators (4-2) on Saturday at noon ET on ABC. The Gators have lost two straight but remain a quality opponent. As of Thursday, ESPN lists Florida No. 25 in its Football Power Index.

Manning's draft stock will begin trending up if he thrives in those matchups. If it's more of the same, though, he may return to school in 2027.