It has only just been a few days since the 2026 NFL draft concluded in Pittsburgh, and analysts are already talking about the 2027 No.1 pick. But an NFL Network analyst is not seeing Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning going off the board as the top pick next season.

Carrying an NFL legacy, being the grandson of Archie Manning and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch has picked up the No.1 buzz. But Daniel Jeremiah, when asked on the Rich Eisen Show, shared his take on who next year's No.1 pick will be.

“I'll go with the Oregon quarterback over Arch [Manning]. I'll go, Dante Moore,” said Jeremiah. 

Dante Moore and Arch have both played three seasons in college football. Manning has been in Austin throughout his three years, while Moore has split time between the UCLA Bruins and later Oregon. 

Both Arch and Moore chose development over the draft. But it comes down to consistency.

"I lean conservative. I'll go Dante Moore just because I've seen him play at a higher level for a longer period of time," Jeremiah further clarified. "Arch has all the ability in the world and I'm looking forward to really studying him."

Moore guided the Ducks on a deep playoff run, completing 71.8% of his throws for 3,565 yards, 30 scores, and 10 picks.

However, Manning, in his first full season under Sarkisian, started slow but surged late, ending with 3,163 yards, a 61.4% completion rate, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Even Fox Sports analyst and game caller, Joel Klatt, has Moore at No.3 overall and Arch at No.4 overall on his 2027 draft board.

“He (Arch Manning) reminds me a little bit, not in his production yet, but maybe like a ‘poor man’s Andrew Luck.’ Arch does. He can throw it downfield, he’s big, and he’s way faster and more mobile than you would anticipate," Klatt said.

For now, Dante Moore is ahead of Arch with the consensus picking him over the Texas signal-caller. It is a long season ahead of college football, and anything can happen. The bigger question that remains is, will Arch even put his name in the draft in 2027? 

Arch Manning's Draft Timeline Remains Undecided

Arch might opt to stick with the Longhorns for another year and see what the draft order looks like. Something the Mannings do historically.   

After being taken first overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, Arch's uncle, Eli Manning declined to play for the San Diego Chargers.

“Which has been a variable in the equation for Mannings in the past is: what does the order of the draft look like? ‘Cause he does not have to come out financially," said insider Josh Pate.

So unlike most players, he doesn’t have to enter the draft as soon as he’s eligible. Because of that leverage, if the draft situation isn’t ideal, he can delay entering the NFL rather than risk ending up with a team he doesn’t want.

"If the New York Jets or some woeful organization is sitting there with the overwhelming desire to draft him and he doesn’t want to go there, he’s the kind of guy who would just stay in school," added Pate.

His PFF's adjusted completion rate sits at 73.6%, a stronger figure but one that still places him 46th nationally. So, during the 2026 season, he will have to work on his accuracy.

Share your thoughts on Arch losing the No.1 spot in Jeremiah's list.

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar