New York Jets fans hoping to land Texas Longhorns quarterback and top NFL prospect Arch Manning in the 2027 NFL Draft should quickly lower their expectations, according to Mike Francesa.
The long-time sports radio fixture predicts the famed Manning family will find a way to shepherd Arch away from the Jets, who haven’t reached the postseason since 2010, and towards a better franchise.
‘I’m telling you right now, they will manipulate the draft,’ Francesa told his podcast audience. ‘They will never let him get drafted by the Jets. You can take that to the bank.’
Arch had an up-and-down season in Austin last year, but ended 2025 on a high note with wins over undefeated Texas A&M and the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl. And he remains the projected top pick for 2027, as premature as that may sound with the 2026 draft still a month away.
But when the Jets brought back New York outcast Geno Smith, who led the league in interceptions with Las Vegas in 2025, fans were quick to assume the team will be tanking in 2026 with an eye towards 2027.
After all, the Jets are coming off a 3-14 season, so it’s not hard to envision New York finishing at the bottom of the NFL and securing the first pick with the intention of drafting the newest Manning.
Although it’s more than a year away, the 2027 NFL Draft is expected to be headlined by Arch Manning (pictured), the Texas Longhorns star and newest quarterback in his family
(From left) Arch’s dad, Cooper, uncles Eli and Peyton, and grandfather Archie are seen in 2025
Jets fans hoping to land Texas Longhorns quarterback and top NFL prospect Arch Manning in the 2027 NFL Draft should quickly lower their expectations, according to Mike Francesa
But that may not be so easy.
As Francesa was quick to remind his audience, the Mannings haven’t been happy to simply see where the draft takes them. Patriarch Archie Manning was a Pro Bowl talent in the 1970s but spent the decade playing for the miserable New Orleans Saints. As an NFL dad, he ensured sons Peyton and Eli (Arch’s uncles) didn’t have that problem.
When middle son Peyton had a chance to turn pro in 1997, the quarterback opted to return to Tennessee for his senior season rather than be drafted by the Jets with the first-overall pick. Officially, Peyton wanted to graduate, play for a national championship and hopefully win a Heisman Trophy, but many have long suspected the decision had more to do with avoiding a dysfunctional Jets team coached by the soon-to-be-fired Rich Kotite.
‘Remember,’ Francesa told his audience, ‘Peyton didn’t want to play for the Jets.’
Arch Manning helped steer sons Peyton and Eli away from difficult situations in the draft
Arch Manning went to two Pro Bowls, but won very few games with the miserable Saints
Peyton would ultimately be taken first overall in 1998 before winning Super Bowls in Indianapolis and Denver.
In 2004, San Diego had the first pick in the draft, but the Mannings had misgivings about the team and Archie’s youngest son, Eli, simply refused to play for the Chargers. As a result, San Diego drafted Eli only to trade him to the New York Giants, where he would go on to win a pair of Super Bowls.
Both Cooper Manning’s son and the Jets have a lot of football to play before the 2027 NFL Draft. The Longhorns’ season starts September 5 against Texas State and Arch still has Texas’ annual spring game on April 18.
Plus, Arch still has two seasons of eligibility remaining. So as was the case with uncle Peyton in 1997, Arch could simply return to school for another season rather than enter the draft.
And he’d have financial motivation to do so. Whereas Peyton was prohibited from being paid during his college days, Arch has NIL deals with brands like Nike, Panini America and Red Bull.
So even if the Jets do ‘win’ the first pick of the 2027 draft, they could still miss out on the next Manning.
