The latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft is out, and people are wondering if Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is still a first-round choice.
Is Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning currently a first-round pick? originally appeared on The Sporting News
Before the 2025 college football season began, there was a ton of hype surrounding quarterback Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns. Texas was the preseason ranked number one team, but they have not been ranked number one since losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes the first game of the season.
The Longhorns are currently ranked ninth in the country, and they will be facing the Florida Gators on the road this week. Manning has not lived up to expectations this season. Many people were anointing him as a potential Heisman Trophy winner and the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Is Manning still a first round pick at the moment in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Texas Longhorns Arch Manning Not a First Round Pick
Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports created his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft. He has five quarterbacks being selected in the first round of his latest mock draft, but Manning's name is not mentioned as a first rounder.
He is only completing 61.3% of his passes for 888 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. Manning has also rushed for 123 yards on 28 carries and five touchdowns, along with averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
With him not being projected a first-round pick, he will probably return to college for the 2026 season, unless things drastically change during SEC Conference play. This is a major fall for Manning after all of the hype he was getting during the offseason. It would not be a bad thing for him to return to Texas next season. The hype before the season was probably unwarranted.
The five quarterbacks who are projected to be first-round picks right now are LaNorris Sellers of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Dante Moore of the Oregon Ducks, John Mateer of the Oklahoma Sooners, Garrett Nussmeier of the Miami Dolphins, and Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers.
Sellers, Nussmeier, and Mendoza were mentioned as potential first-round selections before the season started. Moore and Mateer have leapfrogged not only Manning, but they have also leapfrogged Drew Allar of the Penn State Nittany Lions as well. Don't expect the Longhorns quarterback to be mentioned as a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft anytime soon.
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