Skip Bayless Skeptical of Arch Manning’s NFL Ceiling Amid Quinn Ewers Comparison
Even after seeing a full year of Arch Manning's tape, Skip Bayless remains unsure whether he is good enough to carry on his family's legacy.
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Arch Manning and Skip Bayless inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)
- Arch Manning has struggled to meet expectations during his time at the University of Texas, often overshadowed by Quinn Ewers.
- Skip Bayless questions Manning's NFL potential, citing Ewers' success as a seventh-round pick as a concern.
- An NFL executive shares skepticism about Manning's decision-making and consistency, despite his family legacy.
Arch Manning has not lived up to the hype he had generated before committing to the University of Texas. Coming from a coveted “Manning bloodline” of quarterbacks, Arch was viewed as the next great college quarterback. He was expected to follow in the footsteps of his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning.
Arch made just a couple of appearances off the bench during his freshman season as Quinn Ewers started under center for the Longhorns. In year two, his gametime improved, and he displayed enough to the fans to get excited about the future.
Despite completing 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards, 13 total touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions, head coach Steve Sarkisian trusted Ewers when he returned from injury.
College football experts thought that Manning might leave Texas if Ewers had continued for one more year. Fortunately, Ewers entered the 2025 NFL Draft and was selected in the seventh round (231st overall) by the Miami Dolphins.
Sarkisian announced Manning as the starter ahead of the 2025 campaign. In his debut as the school’s number one signal caller, Manning suffered a humiliating defeat against the defending CFP champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Manning had no problem putting away lesser competition, but struggled to match the same against the more established programs, lost to SEC rivals Florida and Georgia on his way to a 9-3 regular season finish, enough to qualify for a Bowl game. He closed out the year with a 41-27 win against a 9-4 Michigan.
Skip Bayless has kept a close eye on Manning throughout his college journey. And he’s not impressed by what he has seen from the former five-star prospect.
Bayless argued on the latest episode of Arena Gridiron that if Manning couldn’t oust a seventh-round draft pick from Texas, then how can he be a future first-round pick and the face of an NFL franchise?
He gets to Texas and I thought he’s the it kid… He’s that guy, and what happened in first year when he was in Texas? Nothing. Quinn Ewers continued to start and we did not hear a peep out of Arch… Second year, he started to have a little running packages, but Quinn Ewers started again. Wait, this is Arch Manning, you’re kidding, Quinn Ewers is beating out Arch Manning at Texas? [Quinn] Ewers who is gonna be a seventh-round pick of the Miami Dolphins?
Skip Bayless said
Skip Bayless is skeptical on Arch Manning's NFL future 😳
— The Arena: Gridiron (@ArenaGridiron) May 4, 2026
"Quinn Ewers is beating out Arch Manning at Texas? Quinn Ewers who was a 7th round pick. If you are HIM, you just walk on campus and say, enough." pic.twitter.com/0M871lDuSj
An NFL executive shares a similar opinion about Arch Manning as Skip Bayless
Manning finished his high school career with a 33-9 record, throwing over 8500 yards, 134 total touchdowns, and just 19 picks. Offers from big schools poured in, including from the alma mater of both of his uncles, the University of Tennessee (Peyton Manning) and the University of Mississippi (Eli Manning).
Arch picked his own path and opted to play for the Longhorns. Many expected Manning to displace Ewers quickly, but it never happened. He waited until Ewers went to the NFL to earn the starter’s job.
After three years of college ball, Manning has completed 311 passes for 4132 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He further rushed 120 times for 514 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground. Manning holds a 12-3 record.
Manning will probably declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, and if advertised, he will be either the first overall pick, like Fernando Mendoza, or at least get selected in the top 10.
However, an NFL executive isn’t sold on Manning’s talents like Bayless.
The last name [Manning] is putting the ‘generational’ thing on him, and I don’t think he’s that. His decision-making under duress is still iffy and needs work; he runs hot and cold with his accuracy. He can make pinpoint throws, but consistently misses on in-cuts, digs, and slants.
The NFL executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated
According to DraftKings Network, Arch Manning is the overall betting favorite at +250 odds to be the first pick of the 2027 draft.
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