The 2027 NFL Draft has long been touted as the Arch Manning Draft, and for good reason.

As the son of Cooper Manning and nephew of two of football’s most legendary quarterbacks — Peyton and Eli Manning — expectations are through the roof, and he certainly has the talent to go along with them to be something special.

Most mock drafts are still pegging Manning to go first overall in April’s draft. However, his first full college football season as a starting quarterback didn’t go as well as many were hoping, and as a result, not everyone is sold on Arch going No. 1.

ESPN analyst Jordan Rodgers needs to see more for that to be the case:

“As we sit today, I don’t think Arch is a first-round draft pick. Now, when the season’s ending, I think he will get there, but a No. 1 overall pick has to have a few things. You have to have elite traits, like generational traits. I don’t think Arch has a generational arm or generational athleticism. I think he’s got a really good arm. I think he’s a really good athlete… I expect that to improve. I expect him to get into the conversation of being a first-round draft pick, but a No. 1 pick right now? Not just yet,”

The 22-year-old Manning threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while rushing for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns at Texas last season.

There are several other quarterbacks who will challenge Manning atop the draft, including Dante Moore, CJ Carr, and LaNorris Sellers. Not to mention wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is seen as a generational talent himself.

All of that is to say it’s not a shoo-in that Manning goes first overall. It will ultimately come down to how he performs this season and who is on the clock at No. 1. If it is a quarterback-needy team, however, the prospect of taking a Manning may be hard to pass up, no matter his imperfections.

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