Arch Manning ranked fifth among 2027 NFL Draft quarterbacks as exec questions 'blind faith' based off name

Arch Manning is focused on helping his No.

1 Texas Longhorns reach the College Football Playoff, and hopefully, the national championship game this season, but many are focused on what he does at the next level of his football career.

Manning, the nephew of NFL great quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, has been carrying that weight since he was in high school as a top prospect.

But while there have been flashes of greatness from the Longhorns signal caller, ESPN’s latest quarterback rankings for the stacked 2027 NFL Draft have him at No.

5.

In fact, one AFC assistant general manager told the outlet that Manning seems to have created "this blind faith" due to his namesake.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE "What’s giving so many people this blind faith that there’s just this monstrous ceiling with him?" the executive questioned.

"Maybe this current state is just who he really is as a prospect." Manning entered the 2026 college season with something to prove after what some viewed as an underwhelming 2025 campaign.

He threw for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.

DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW! This season, Manning has thrown for 862 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions for his 4-0 Longhorns, which includes a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State earlier this season.

The expectations for Manning, though, coming into college were as astronomical as you may think given the quarterbacks with the same name that came before him.

He hasn’t hit those high expectations on a consistent basis, but there’s still lots of football left to play.

But as NFL teams have already begun the rigorous scouting period ahead of next year’s draft in April, every throw, pre-snap check and more for Manning, and the other top quarterback prospects, mean that much more.