Shouldn’t Go to NFL? Stephen A. Smith’s Harsh Assessment of Arch Manning After Back-to-Back Losses

Stephen A. Smith urges Arch Manning to return to college for the 2027 season.

Shouldn’t Go to NFL? Stephen A. Smith’s Harsh Assessment of Arch Manning After Back-to-Back Losses

Arch Manning and Stephen A. Smith inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

What a difference two weeks can make. The Texas Longhorns were ranked No. 1 in college football. Murmurs about Arch Manning going first overall in the 2027 NFL Draft peaked. Two weeks and two defeats later, the talks have more or less evaporated. Now, analysts like Stephen A. Smith are urging Manning to stay in college for one more year.

In Week five, Texas lost to Oklahoma in the Red River rivalry and lost to Florida last week. Texas fell to 19 with the two defeats.

Arch Manning threw 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and took 7 sacks. He has been sacked 13 times in the last three starts.

However, the 22-year-old is on the verge of losing his starter’s job to redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr. for the Week 7 showdown against Ole Miss. Before that, Stephen A. Smith urged Manning to stay in college for one more year. He said on First Take:

I do not believe Arch should go to the NFL. I believe Arch should leave Texas and go to a place that adamantly develops him as a quarterback, that gives you the ability to play quarterback.

In six games, Manning has thrown 106 completions for 1295 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Since his 2023 debut, Manning has appeared in 31 college games for Texas. He has thrown 417 completions (62.7%) for 5427 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He has also rushed for 14 rushing touchdowns. Manning boasts a 16-5 record.

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Stephen A. Smith makes his stance clear about Arch Manning’s draft position

Smith’s colleague Paul Finebaum and draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. have hyped Manning after he chose Texas over either Tennessee or Ole Miss—the alma mater of his famous uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning. Manning took over as the starter from Quinn Ewers, who left for the NFL last year.

Shouldn't Go to NFL? Stephen A. Smith's Harsh Assessment of Arch Manning After Back-to-Back Losses
Arch Manning (Image via IMAGO)

However, Manning is no longer being viewed as a top-10 draft pick, let alone the first overall pick. Still, Smith argued that Manning could be drafted high because of his last name. For this reason, Smith believes NFL teams view Arch as a low-risk investment. He added:

I can justify the investment I made in him, because if by some circumstance it doesn’t work out to our liking, nobody can fault me for taking that risk, because look at the security blanket he had available to him, in me making that selection.

Dan Orlovsky lists possible landing spots for Arch Manning

If Arch stays for another year instead of going to the NFL, then Dan Orlovsky wants him to leave Texas and transfer to a different school. The former NFL signal caller still has faith in Manning and believes a change of scenery and learning from a different head coach will elevate his draft stock once more. Orlovsky listed LSU, Ohio State, Miami, Kentucky, and Indiana as possible destinations for Manning.

LSU would be a great fit for Manning. Lane Kiffin made his name as a quarterback whisperer. He sent off Jaxson Dart to the Giants last year. Miami has Darian Mensah, who is arguably the best quarterback in college football—he has 20 touchdowns in six starts for the Hurricanes. Mensah would likely leave for the NFL after this year.

Kentucky is playing well, but would Manning drop down to a lower-echelon SEC team? That leaves the defending champions, Indiana. The Hoosiers signed former TCU starter Josh Hoover from the transfer portal. He has 19 total touchdowns in seven games—Indiana is 6-1. Hoover would likely follow Mensah to the NFL.

So far, Curt Cignetti, head coach of the Hoosiers, has yet to work with a big name like Manning. But he should be tempted by the prospect of landing him in Bloomington.

Surprisingly, Orlovsky didn’t include Ole Miss on his list. Trinidad Chambliss is playing the final year of college eligibility, and the Rebels will require a quarterback next year. Both Arch’s uncle, Eli Manning, and grandfather, Archie Manning, played for the Rebels.

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