Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning did not quite have the college football season the star wanted, but the signal-caller remains a top prospect ahead of the 2027 NFL draft. After a slow start, Manning was able to find his footing to close the season.
During an exclusive interview with Heavy Sports, Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt dished on Manning’s draft outlook as well as the top quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. Klatt believes Manning can get back in the conversation as a potential top-10 pick with a strong college football season in Austin.
“Yeah, if he has a big year, I wouldn’t put it past him,” Klatt told Heavy Sports prior the 2026 NFL draft in April. “I really wouldn’t. I think Texas is going to be a top-five team.
“And I think with a guy like Sark (Steve Sarkisian), if they can get the o-line right and get some threats on the outside, then they’re gonna have a really good year.”
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Texas news and Manning’s NFL draft outlook.
Texas Criticized for Offense Around QB Arch Manning
Klatt was also critical of Texas’ offensive system around Manning. The analyst believes Texas should rely more on Manning’s arm than his legs, moving away from the system designed for former quarterback Quinn Ewers.
“Arch is a really good player,” Klatt detailed. “Last year, they didn’t have the wide receiver core nor the running game to help him out to the degree that he needed it. Certainly, that offense needed to change.
“So, for instance, Quinn Ewers was a point guard, RPO (run-pass option) style passer. Arch is not. Arch is a more down the field guy. I thought that the offense was going to morph for Texas and mimic more of what like Alabama did in 2020 with Mac Jones, and it never really materialized.
“… Texas’ offensive weapons never materialized last year, and so Arch was constantly under pressure. There was a lot of pressure on him to develop, and it didn’t work out.”
Arch Manning Predicted to be the No. 1 Pick in 2027 NFL Mock Draft
It is worth remembering that 2025 was Manning’s first full season as a college football starting quarterback. Manning threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 61.4% of passes.
The star also added 399 rushing yards and 10 TDs on the ground. Klatt is not the only one bullish on Manning’s NFL outlook.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid’s early 2027 NFL mock draft has Manning projected as the No. 1 pick by the Arizona Cardinals.
“Manning’s throwing motion, footwork and progressions are still inconsistent, leading to scattershot ball placement and holding on to the ball too long, but he continued developing as the season went on,” Reid wrote in an April 30, story.
“He has all the traits of a No. 1 pick — he just needs to unlock the next stage of his development.”
Arch Manning’s NFL Draft Outlook: ‘His Game Translates to the NFL’
Despite all the inconsistencies, why is Manning viewed as a top NFL prospect? Klatt points to Manning’s skillset as being NFL ready.
“But his game translates to the NFL, more so than a guy that’s just going to be an RPO thrower,” Klatt noted. “His game, throwing the intermediate (passes), being athletic, is something I think NFL teams are going to really like.”
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