Arch Manning Will Be Playing for This Team in 2027

Fernando Mendoza was the undisputed No. 1 overall quarterback and pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but would he have kept that honor if Arch Manning declared?

While Mendoza was far and away the better of the two signal-callers last year, the allure of the Manning dynasty and Arch’s overall raw talent would have made it an interesting debate for months on end if he decided to leave Texas.

In the end, though, Manning decided to stay in Austin with the Longhorns and is solely focused on making it to the College Football Playoff this upcoming season.

But what happens after the season is over, be it in confetti or a more subdued manner?

Let me dust off my crystal ball and give my best three guesses about which helmet Arch Manning will be wearing in the 2027 season.

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Arizona Cardinals

Sorry, Carson Beck. The Cardinals have shown they aren’t afraid to dump a rookie QB they drafted if they can get a better pick the next year, as they did with Josh Rosen and Kyler Murray nearly a decade ago.

The Cardinals are in the toughest division in football, the NFC West, and will have to play arguably three of the best five teams in the NFL six times throughout the campaign.

Arizona needs something to drum up interest in the desert, and Manning as their future would not only be a positive on the field but also help boost ticket sales.

New York Jets

The Jets have not made the postseason in 15 years, and unless Geno Smith has a huge bounce-back season, that number is likely to hit 16.

Arch Manning could go down as the biggest bust imaginable, but the Jets drafting the heir apparent would more than likely be in the top three moments of the decade for Jets fans.

That’s how bad it’s been for the Jets.

Texas Longhorns

Although everyone is already checking the box that Manning will be in the 2027 NFL Draft, there is still a chance he decides to come back for his senior year.

Manning, unlike other players, doesn’t need the NFL money and is doing just fine with what he’s making at Texas. His family has stated multiple times that they want Arch to be 100% ready for the pros when he declares, and if they feel a senior year would further refine his mechanics, it’s a legitimate possibility.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 2:12 PM.