Arch Manning, the Texas Longhorns’ prodigious quarterback, is projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the New Orleans Saints tabbed as his likely destination, according to a recent mock draft by Josh Edwards of CBS Sports.
The Saints, who bypassed Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders in 2025, are poised to embrace Manning, a New Orleans native and scion of football royalty.
He would instantly be relied upon to ignite a franchise that has seen mediocre results over the recent years.
Manning’s limited college starts—just 95 passing attempts for 969 yards—belie his immense potential.
His arm strength, precision, and composure under pressure have drawn comparisons to his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning.
In relief of Quinn Ewers, Manning showcased his readiness, contributing in many areas en route to the Longhorns' run to the College Football Playoff semifinal.
As the favorite for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, he’s expected to dominate as Texas’ full-time starter, cementing his draft stock.
The Saints’ decision to skip Sanders, who fell to the fifth round in this year's draft, reflects their long-term vision.
Manning’s local ties—his grandfather Archie starred for the Saints—make him a marketing dream and a potential franchise savior.
At 6’4” with elite intangibles, he’s the archetype of a modern NFL quarterback, capable of transforming a struggling offense.
While some question whether Manning will declare early or stay at Texas through 2027, the allure of returning home may prove irresistible.
If the Saints secure him, they’ll land the cornerstone they’ve lacked since Drew Brees, setting the stage for a new era in New Orleans.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Gets Public Apology After NFL Draft Incident
After becoming the biggest story of the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders received an public apology on Sunday for the worst part of it all.
It was a turbulent experience for the former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, a projected first-round prospect whose unexpected fall in the draft was finally ended by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round on Day 3, when they selected him with the No. 144 overall pick.
If the humbling wait was not enough, Sanders got distastefully pranked by the son of an NFL coach, who acquired his private phone number and called him pretending to tell him he had been drafted by the New Orleans Saints.
"It's been a long wait, man," the caller said. "We're going to take you with our next pick. But you're going to have to wait a little bit longer, man. Sorry about that."
The culprit revealed himself by recording himself making the call and inexplicably posting the video on X on Saturday afternoon, at which point Sanders still had not been drafted. He drew extreme backlash for his behavior, which led up to a public apology the next day.
"It didn't really have an impact on me," Sanders said of the prank call. "I don't feed into negativity or I don't feed into that stuff... I think of course it is childish. Of course, I feel like it was a childish act, but everybody does childish things here and there."
On Sunday, it was revealed that Jax Ulbrich, son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, was the person who called Sanders. Ulbrich was remorseful in his public apology to Sanders via Instagram. The apology was the only post on the account, and the comments were disabled.
"On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake," Ulbrich typed on a black screen. "Shedeur, what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing and shameful. I'm so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish."
He also revealed that he spoke with the Browns quarterback on the phone on Sunday — under his real identity — and Sanders had been gracious enough to answer the call.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Falcons are not pursuing any internal punishment against their defensive coordinator after his son's behavior.
