5 best NFL fits for Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning in the 2026 Draft

It's impossible not to be excited about the potential to have another Manning playing in the NFL . Peyton retired after the 2015 season, and Eli decided to call it a career after 2019. Now, their nephew Arch is coming, and he will be eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.

It's obviously early to make any definitive prediction, because Arch hasn't even established himself as a college starter. Going into his second season , he is still behind Quinn Ewers at Texas, but he's expected to have more meaningful reps than he did a year ago — especially after a strong performance in the spring game.

But based on his prospect profile, it's likely that Arch Manning will end up as a highly touted NFL prospect as well. Considering that scenario, let's discuss five teams that would be ideal fits for Cooper Manning's son.

Los Angeles Rams

Jared Goff had one of the worst rookie seasons ever (not mentioning Arch's uncle here) for a first overall pick in 2016, with five touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 63.6 passer rating under head coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Rob Boras. Sean McVay arrived in 2017 and transformed Goff into a viable and then above average quarterback.

Matthew Stafford has a significant injury history and will be 38 when Arch Manning is draft eligible in 2026, so it makes sense for the Rams to look for a successor. The combination of a highly talented passer and McVay as the offensive mind can be scary for the rest of the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers

The thought process here is similar, with Kyle Shanahan being the ultimate quarterback elevator in the entire NFL. Right now, the 49ers have Brock Purdy, and he will probably still be around in 2026. However, Purdy will certainly be much more expensive two years from now, and if things don't go right for him under new circumstances, San Francisco will soon look for alternatives.

Shanahan doesn't have (or hasn't shown) patience to develop a raw quarterback, but Manning's ceiling is enticing.

Whichever team has Ben Johnson

Let's go back to Jared Goff. When Sean McVay gave up on Goff and the Lions acquired him as a trade dump off, the quarterback had a mediocre first season in Detroit. That completely changed when Johnson became the offensive coordinator.

The Lions became a top offense, and Johnson has had multiple chances to be a head coach. So far, he has decided to stay in Detroit, but that won't last forever. Once Ben Johnson decides to be a head coach, his team will be a prime destination for a young quarterback.

Dallas Cowboys

Don't look now, but Dak Prescott is already 31. He will be 33 when Manning is eligible, so the Cowboys brass might be willing to draft a replacement — and that's the optimistic scenario, in which Dallas is able to retain Prescott before he hits free agency.

For Arch Manning, it would be interesting to keep playing in Texas after his college career, and playing for the Cowboys is a great marketing tool. The NFL has a rookie scale to pay players entering the league, but a Manning playing for the Cowboys would bring an absurd earning potential for all parties involved.

Indianapolis Colts

Imagine how awesome it would be. Arch would play in the house his uncle Peyton built, and the Colts have a stable head coach and offensive playcaller in Shane Steichen. That scenario probably means Anthony Richardson busts, which is unfortunate, but the possibility of having another Manning under center has the potential to be awesome for Colts fans.

Shane Steichen has a strong track record working with a pocket passer like Philip Rivers and also developing young quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts, so the fit to maximize what Arch has to offer is exciting.

Related: Arch Manning moves out West, Notre Dame finds their replacement at left tackle, and more hypothetical college football trades