Texas quarterback Arch Manning was ranked as the No. 1 quarterback prospect of the 2026 NFL Draft class in a Wednesday episode of ESPN's First Draft with Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates.

Twenty-seven years ago when ESPN The Magazine debuted with its "NEXT" cover highlighting the athletes poised to become the future faces of their respective sports, it featured a 25-year-old Kordell Stewart already three years into his NFL career.

Arch Manning is widely considered the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft if he leaves the Texas Longhorns after the 2025 season. Will we seen the highly-hyped quarterback on an NFL sideline next fall? In the words of one legendary college football broadcaster: not so fast, my friend .