Mel Kiper makes definitive statement on Arch Manning's place in 2026 NFL Draft class

by: Alex Byington 28 minutes ago _AlexByington

Arch Manning (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images) | Mel Kiper Jr. (Howard Smith-Imagn Images)

Mel Kiper Jr. ‘s Big Board ranking of the upcoming NFL Draft class is an annual must-read for all NFL fans and draftniks. But when ESPN’s longtime draft prognosticator ultimately releases his list of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft later this year, one prominent name will be noticably absent: Texas redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning .

Kiper announced Wednesday on ESPN’s First Draft that he will not include Manning, the much-ballyhooed nephew of former superstar NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning , on any of his 2026 draft rankings. Kiper also advised the first-year Longhorns starter to forgo next year’s draft and return to Austin for the 2026 college football season.

“I’m not (recommending him) coming out after one season. History tells us you shouldn’t. I’d want (him) to go through a year where he’s the guy, and you see that alpha, you see the guy (have) a command of the offense, (he’s) got a command of college football,” Kiper said Wednesday on ESPN2 “… He’s (still) trying to figure it out, and if you’re tying to figure out college, you’re not going to the NFL in April. Forget about it. He’s back at Texas for Year 2 (as a starter) next season.

“He’s not going to be on any of my big boards, he’s not going to be on any of my Top 10 positional analysis coming out. On my rankings, he will not appear. Now if he decides in January to come out, I’ll put him in then. But he’s not going to be on my Big Board, he needs to go back for 2026.”

Manning has taken plenty of criticism from fans and media alike after not necessarily impressing in his first two starts as Texas’ QB1 despite entering the 2025 college football season as the betting favorite to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy.

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