Mel Kiper Jr. has issued a stark warning to Arch Manning, stating the Texas quarterback “has got to go back to college for another year” following the Longhorns’ precipitous decline from the top of the national rankings. The ESPN draft analyst made the comments on Monday’s episode of *First Draft*, citing Manning’s inability to sustain the high level of play required for a projected top-five NFL Draft selection. Kiper emphasized that if Manning does not return to school, teams must view him through the lens of the “Green Bay Packers model,” akin to Jordan Love or Aaron Rodgers, where a late first-round pick serves as a long-term developmental project rather than an immediate starter.
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The criticism follows a turbulent start to the 2026 season for the Texas Longhorns, who entered the year as trendy national championship contenders and briefly held the No. 1 ranking after defeating Ohio State. However, the team has since suffered consecutive losses to unranked opponents, Oklahoma and Florida, triggering a narrative of free-fall. Much of the scrutiny has shifted directly to Manning, whose inconsistency and lack of visible growth have dampened the Heisman hype that surrounded him entering the campaign. The shift from presumed elite prospect to a player needing further development marks a significant pivot in his draft capital.
Kiper’s assessment highlights the fragility of Manning’s NFL stock, noting that the “Patrick Mahomes” comparison is no longer viable given his current trajectory. By explicitly stating that a team would need to commit to a three-year development timeline if they drafted him now, Kiper signals that the window for Manning to be a high-value immediate impact player is closing. For the Texas program, this commentary underscores the urgency for Manning to demonstrate tangible improvement before the next major conference showdown, as his future in the NFL may now hinge on patience rather than immediate readiness.
Source: Yahoo Sports
