NFL teams shouldn’t rush to assume Arch Manning is heading to the league in 2026. 

At least according to Adam Schefter. 

There’s a chance that Manning, projected as the top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, may choose to extend his college career past his second year, according to the ESPN insider.

“First of all, there’s no guarantees that Arch Manning’s coming out after next year. It sounds like he certainly could be staying beyond next year,” Schefter said during an appearance on “Get Up” on Thursday.

“I’m not a college football insider, but none of the Mannings ever went out early, and I don’t know with NIL money being what it is why Arch would do that. So, all of this conversation about tanking for Arch next year, he could be in the draft in 2027, not even next year.”

Manning, the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and potential Hall of Famer Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning, is expected to be the Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback next season after Quinn Ewers entered the 2025 draft. 

In 10 appearances and two starts last season, Manning completed 61 of 90 passes (67.8 percent) for 939 yards with nine passing touchdowns and two interceptions. 

With his famous family name, Manning is regarded as the most marketable amateur athlete in sports, with On3 pegging his NIL valuation at $6.6 million, which is higher than every other college and high school athlete.

Schefter’s comments could throw a wrench into the plans of teams at the top of this year’s draft — namely, the Titans, Browns and Giants — who are navigating what has been dubbed a weak quarterback class headlined by Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.

With the fall still months away, Manning has already established himself as the clear favorite to win next season’s Heisman Trophy.