In a wild, wild proposition, Arch Manning's name is floating around as Derek Carr's potential replacement as the Saints' new franchise face. It sure is a long shot and then some, but not entirely impossible.
USA Today's Nate Davis explains the long chain of events that the possibility will demand: Manning declares for the 2026 NFL Draft and, somehow, the Saints get the No. 1 pick and draft him.
"However, there’s an added layer of intrigue if the Saints absolutely crater in 2025, which seemed entirely possible anyway before Carr’s announcement, given the aftermath of a 5-12 season in 2024 when he started 10 games. Now, just imagine if they secure the No. 1 pick in 2026, Arch Manning has the type of season in Austin everyone seems to expect and has the option to go home to his native New Orleans and revive the team his grandfather, Archie Manning, played so bravely but futilely for in the 1970s," Davis wrote.
Manning is already a hot No. 1 overall pick, and he is yet to start a single season in his collegiate career.
As Texas's most likely starter for the 2025 season, Manning becomes eligible to declare for the NFL draft in 2026.
"Speculation had already been running amok as it pertained to NFL teams potentially jockeying for draft position to get the presumed University of Texas star, who’s still only thrown 63 passes for the Longhorns. But this is what happens to football royalty when you’re the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, who combined to win four Super Bowls during their illustrious NFL careers," Davis wrote.
Moreover, his father, Cooper Manning, has confirmed that the QB is in "no hurry" to declare for the NFL.
This translates to Manning staying for at least two more years in Texas before considering a switch.