The QB class for the 2026 NFL Draft got even thinner after Dante Moore decided to return to Oregon, and now all eyes are on the 2027 class, which could feature Texas Longhorns star Arch Manning.
With Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza likely going to the Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Jets are being urged to punt on taking a signal-caller in this year’s draft.
CBS Sports’ Danny Kanell believes the Jets should be all-in on tanking next season to put themselves in position to draft Manning, should the Texas star decide to leave school after the 2026 season.
“[The Jets] have a massive image problem that they’ve got to overcome,” Kanell said on Jan. 15 during an appearance on CBS Sports HQ. “I don’t think there’s ever a case for a team to tank. But if there ever was one, I think this would be the year that they should tank for Arch Manning. They’ve got three first-round picks in 2027. So even if they’re not the top pick, they can move up to the number one overall pick…
“I do not think there are great options for the Jets [at QB this offseason]. I think you’re all in on Arch in 2027, and then you have Uncle Eli [Manning] to help him navigate those New York waters with what he had to deal with, but there’s no guarantee Arch comes there either.”
Arch Manning Has a New Weapon at Texas
Manning will have a new target next season, as Cam Colemon has committed to transferring to Texas after spending two seasons with the Auburn Tigers.
With Coleman now part of the mix at Texas, the focus shifts to how this could shape Manning’s growth. On Jan. 11, On3’s J.D. PicKell explained the role Coleman is expected to play for Manning, one that was missing from the offense last season.
“For Arch Manning, he had a good year last year, especially as the year progressed,” PicKell said. “He finished very quietly top five in passing touchdowns in the SEC. He really came on strong toward the end of the year. But the thing with Arch Manning is, as good a year as he had, I don’t think there was ever like one true alpha wide receiver for him.
“Like Ryan Wingo had a good year. Parker Livingstone had a good year. But there was nobody who was like, ‘Hey, on fourth and goal now they’re probably going to get the ball to this guy.’ Even if there was a guy like that, you weren’t overly worried about him to the sense of like, ‘Hey, let’s double cover him. Hey, let’s give him safety help.’ Cam Coleman now is effectively that. If you’re excited about the Arch Manning progress and you want to see him do more in 2026, you just now got a piece for the offense to do that.”
Texas’ Passing Offense Could Be Scary in 2026
Wingo, the team’s leading receiver last season after posting 834 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore, will now have a teammate who will garner more attention than he can potentially take advantage of the matchups that the opposition gives him.
Furthermore, ESPN reported on Jan. 11, citing sources, that the Longhorns added North Carolina State Wolfpack transfer Hollywood Smothers, bolstering Manning’s weapons in Season 2 as the starter.
At Auburn, Coleman emerged as a key target, finishing his second season with 708 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 56 receptions. One of the highlights came against Vanderbilt, where he hauled in 10 catches for a career-best 143 yards.
Texas QB Arch Manning Receives Compelling Jets Take