Arch Manning named 2nd-best pro QB prospect in poll of 25 NFL scouts
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The 2026 college football season has drawn the interest of NFL scouts and analysts more than any other season in recent memory due to the large amount of quarterback talent on display around the nation on a week-to-week basis.
Just about everybody around the pro ranks agrees that the 2027 NFL Draft will feature one of the deepest QB classes in recent memory, with several franchise-changing gunslingers expected to be selected next May. The guy on the top of most people’s lists when it comes to this discussion is none other than star Texas signal caller Arch Manning, who is certain to be off the board early.
How early, though, is a massive point of contention, among analysts, and it’s something that ESPN insider Pete Thamel shed some light on Saturday morning. Per Thamel, a recent poll asked 25 NFL scouts which quarterback they expect to be selected first in the 2027 NFL Draft, and Arch surprisingly wasn’t the most selected player.
According to the poll, Oregon Ducks’ star Dante Moore actually received the most votes with 14, and Arch was a distant second with just 7 of the 25 scouts naming him as the top QB available.
It’s not exactly surprising that NFL teams view Moore this way, as he was widely seen as a lock to go 2nd overall in the 2026 draft before he decided to return to Eugene for a final season.
Moore may have the edge right now, but if Arch can play up to the level many believe he is capable of, then there’s a very high likelihood he ends up jumping Moore come next spring.
