The dust has barely settled on the 2026 NFL Draft, but the football world has already pivoted its collective gaze toward the 2027 cycle. At the center of that storm sits the most scrutinized name in the sport: Arch Manning.
Joel Klatt’s Early 2027 NFL Draft Outlook Puts Arch Manning in Focus
FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt revealed his 2027 draft board on his YouTube podcast on Monday. He ranked Trinidad Chambliss at No. 10 and allotted No. 9 to Notre Dame’s CJ Carr. However, he drew the spotlight when he ranked Oregon’s Dante Moore at No. 3 as QB1. Manning found himself at No. 4 overall.
Klatt said, “He (Arch Manning) reminds me a little bit, not in his production yet, but maybe like a ‘poor man’s Andrew Luck.’ Arch does. He can throw it downfield, he’s big, and he’s way faster and more mobile than you would anticipate.”
Interestingly, Manning’s turning point came in the postseason. Against Michigan, he shredded the Wolverines with his legs, racking up 221 yards passing and a staggering 155 yards rushing with 4 total touchdowns, and eventually ended the season with a score of 83.1 on PFSN CFB QB Impact. It was the kind of dual-threat display that Andrew Luck specialized in at Stanford.
The commentator then highlighted how Manning didn’t have a great year and didn’t have the best of starts against Ohio State. “I don’t know if he was fully healthy early in the year. I know that they didn’t run the football nearly as effectively as they needed to for a first-year quarterback,” Klatt continued.
But he also showcased the positives and added, “Guys, he’s a Manning. Like, let’s not overthink this. An organization is going to look at him and they’re going to see, I think, a better year in Year 2 as a starter.”
Texas has been aggressive in the transfer portal, surrounding Manning with high-velocity weapons like running back Raleek Brown (Arizona State) and Hollywood Smothers. With a more experienced offensive line and a backfield that can actually alleviate the pressure on the deep ball, Texas could easily turn into genuine national championship contenders.
Klatt concluded, “So, he played a lot better late in the season. Everyone decided that he was bad, and he’s not. This guy is a really good player, and he’s a Manning… I think they’ll run it better. I think they’ve got better players on the outside, and Arch is going to be just fine.”
While the QB1 slot may belong to Dante Moore today, if Manning rolls through the 2026 schedule and takes the Longhorns on a trip to the College Football Playoff, the reality check will be for the scouts who doubted him, not the quarterback himself.
