Arch Manning entered the season atop many early NFL Draft boards despite it being his first year as a starter. But with the Loghornsn QB still searching for a true breakout moment, the likelihood of him declaring for the 2026 Draft appears to be fading.
If Manning returns to college for another season, veteran commentator Kirk Herbstreit believes one AFC East team might consider delaying its quarterback decision until 2027.
Arch Manning’s Draft Timeline Could Shift NFL QB Plans Into 2027
Manning hasn’t fully met the massive expectations placed on him, posting 25 total touchdowns and nine interceptions through ten games while leading Texas to a 7–3 record. He’s ranked 57th in PFSN’s CFB QB Impact metric.
Some critics have even prematurely labeled him a bust, but Manning’s raw talent remains undeniable, and many analysts believe he will develop into a top NFL prospect.
Herbstreit is among those who still believe in Manning’s upside. The veteran commentator suggested that the New York Jets could be one of the teams willing to delay their quarterback decision until 2027 if Manning returns to college for another season.
“A lot of people are thinking Arch Manning, he was supposed to be a guy that maybe was going to come out this year,” Herbstreit said on Thursday Night Football broadcast. “He hasn’t announced anything. My guess would be he’ll come back to college for one more year. So, he might be the guy in ’27 that maybe the Jets could possibly hold out and maybe get him the following year.”
The Jets haven’t had a franchise quarterback since Chad Pennington, and even that’s debatable. After Aaron Rodgers failed to make an impact, the team brought in Justin Fields this offseason, but he turned out to be worse, though his struggles were widely anticipated.
New York opened the season 0–6 and currently sits at 2–8, continuing a long-standing quarterback drought. The franchise passed on taking a young QB in the 2025 draft due to the class’s weakness, and with several 2026 prospects underperforming, the upcoming class now appears thin as well.
“To be candid, covering college football, this was supposed to be a monster year for quarterbacks,” Herbstreit said. “Turns out, a lot of them flopped. And so, you’re looking at the following year being a huge year. So, do you go for a stopgap Kirk Cousins-type of guy for ’26 and use that draft capital in other areas to get stronger? And then go for the home run potential in ’27. That’s probably the direction I would go.”
With a new head coach and general manager in place, the Jets have the luxury of waiting out another year for a franchise QB like Manning, who represents the generational talent that could finally end their decades-long search for the position.
