The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone so naturally, people are now looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft. More specifically, people are curious about the quarterbacks that could be in that draft class. One name looms large and that's Arch Manning, who will be eligible for that year's draft.
As Indianapolis Colts fans are aware, the Mannings tend to stay in college for the full four years and Arch has several reasons to stay in Austin, Texas for the 2026 season. First and foremost, the NIL money football players get these days is ridiculous so why not take advantage of that while he still can? Secondly, Arch hasn't been the full-time starter for the Longhorns yet so if he stayed for two years, that'd give teams plenty of chances to see what kind of quarterback they'd be getting.
Colts fans will be heavily invested in Arch's decision after this upcoming college football season and Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report wrote that the organization should already be looking ahead to Manning and the potential 2026 draft class.
Arch Manning buzz makes Colts fans feel like it’s 1998 again
Now, of course, Arch might decide to stay in school for the 2026 season and if that's the case, the Colts might not be in a position to draft him the following year. This upcoming season is do-or-die for Anthony Richardson, who the team spent the fourth overall pick on in the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson showed potential as a rookie but was injured early in the season and then disappointed in his sophomore campaign.
Daniel Jones is also on the roster and the two will battle it out for the starting gig. While one (or both) of them could surprise us, it feels like they're both on borrowed time. If the Colts have a chance to draft Arch Manning, whose uncle Peyton was a Colts legend, make no mistake -- They'll do it.
That would likely mean they finished the year as the worst team in the league and that Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard would be on their way out so Arch would be a no-brainer pick by whoever would be running the team at that point.
Colts fans can't help but think about what it'd be like to have Arch Manning take over the reigns at quarterback in Indianapolis, especially given how inconsistent the position has become since Andrew Luck retired in 2019. Arch would provide stability to a position that's seen anything but in recent years and that's an exciting thought, but one that will have to wait.