Mel Kiper Jr. Downgrades Arch Manning’s Draft Prospects

Mel Kiper Jr. seems to be lowering the expectations surrounding Arch Manning, the highly talked-about nephew of iconic quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.

While Manning has often been seen as a potential top pick in the NFL Draft, Kiper, who is considered a leading voice on draft analysis at ESPN, has him ranked at No. 24 overall and No. 6 among quarterbacks for the upcoming 2027 NFL Draft.

“Manning is too inconsistent,” Kiper stated. “Evaluating him is going to be a challenge. If you watch any of his games, it’s like a roller coaster ride.” He also cited Manning’s statistics, which include a 63% completion rate, 1,122 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes, five interceptions, and 174 rushing yards, as factors contributing to his lower ranking.

On a positive note, Kiper has ranked Manning above Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who many had predicted would be the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, currently held by the Jets.

However, it’s a tough reality for Manning. Following a loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, he finds himself behind several top quarterbacks, including Drew Mestemaker from Oklahoma State (ranked No. 2), Darian Mensah from Miami (No. 4), Trinidad Chambliss from Ole Miss (No. 6), CJ Carr from Notre Dame (No. 8), and Austin Simmons from Missouri (No. 10).

Mestemaker’s rise to Kiper’s prestigious big board is noteworthy, especially considering his unconventional path—he didn’t start at his high school and initially walked on at North Texas before joining the Cowboys this season.

Kiper does acknowledge that Manning’s prospects could improve if he ends the season on a strong note with a Texas team loaded with talent.

“I’m really curious to see how the rest of this season unfolds,” he remarked.

Texas will be up against four ranked teams in the next five weeks, and their upcoming match against Florida, despite their recent struggles, still has the Gators in the top 15.