The New Orleans Saints could very well be picking near the top of the order in the 2026 NFL Draft. Depending on how Tyler Shough performs – if he’s even the starter – they could have their eyes on one of the top quarterbacks in the class. Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, LaNorris Sellers, Cade Klubnik, and others are all in contention for that QB1 spot, but there’s a certain someone from Austin, Texas who could be as well.
For months, there has been speculation on whether or not Arch Manning would enter
the NFL Draft after one year as the starter at Texas. His grandfather and former New Orleans Saints QB, Archie Manning came out and said Arch would not enter the 2026 NFL Draft and would start for two years with the Longhorns. However, on Tuesday, Arch gave his view on the matter.
“Yeah, I don’t know where he got that from. He texted me and apologized about that,” said Manning.
Arch did go on to say he’s just taking it day by day right now, and that decision won’t come for a long time. He’s only started a handful of games in college, and while he looked good and is expected to be one of the best QBs in the country this year, a lot can change in a matter of nine months.
Could the race for Arch really be on? Well, many believe the Saints may be one of the worst teams in the league this year. Their roster isn’t half bad, but their quarterback situation is a bit questionable. Both Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler have flashed at times this offseason, but neither has been spectacular in the preseason nor run away with this battle. In my opinion, if they don’t improve soon, it’s hard to envision this team winning more than four or five games.
If the Saints are picking towards the beginning of the draft and Arch enters, you’d have to think there’d be mutual interest. Arch grew up in New Orleans, and if they have a top five pick, then things obviously didn’t go well at the QB position, so they’d likely be looking for an upgrade.
I think most Saints fans would welcome the potential addition of Arch Manning to the team. Whether that comes in 2026 or 2027, we don’t know yet, but he’s left the door open for a potential 2026 entree into the draft.
