Jets target veteran QBs, hinting at a long-term play for Texas star Arch Manning, who's projected as a top 2027 draft pick.
We're still over a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and teams are already looking ahead to the 2027 draft, where many expect Texas star quarterback Arch Manning to go No. 1.
Manning, the son of Cooper Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, has been touted as a potential franchise-altering talent. That's not a label that people just give to anyone.
His name and potential combined will have NFL owners and general managers salivating over the prospect of having him as their team's franchise QB.
And the first moves are already being lined up to try and acquire him.
According to reports, the New York Jets are targeting veteran QBs like Carson Wentz and Geno Smith in free agency for their starting position next season.
With all due respect to Wentz and Smith, a move like this could signal a team's desire to tank for a good draft pick.
For the better part of the 21st century, the Jets have been one of the biggest QB graveyards in the NFL.
It's hard to remember the last signal-caller to have a particularly successful tenure as a Jet, and that could be a potential put-off for top college QBs.
However, according to respected NFL insider Gary Myers, Arch pulling and Eli and refusing to play for a franchise is not in the cards.
"Anxious Jets fans need not worry about him refusing to play for Jets," Myers said on X. "That won't happen."
Arch to New York makes a lot of sense for both parties.
A guy with his brand would thrive in a market the size of New York, similar to the way Eli did as a Giant. While we can never be certain about a prospect, Arch is as close to a guaranteed hit as you'll get in the draft. The Jets are in desperate need of that type of player.
For now, the redshirt-sophomore will continue to prepare for his third and likely final season as Texas QB.
His slow start to last season raised questions over the hype surrounding him, but his performances towards the back half of the year silenced a lot of his doubters.
The Longhorns goal this offseason was to surround Arch with a championship-level supporting cast for next season, and that's exactly what they did.
All signs point towards a potential Heisman season for Texas' QB1, and if that comes to fruition, the smoke surrounding Arch will only thicken.