If there is one word that has defined the Cowboys’ 2024 season, it is rumors. From Deion and Shedeur Sanders to Mike McCarthy, we’ve had our fair share of gossip this year, and Arch Manning may be the next name on that list.
The Texas Longhorns quarterback, who comes from football royalty, has been loosely linked to Dallas for some time now.
Anytime you have a Longhorns signal-caller with that much name recognition, you are bound to have fans and media speculating about them being drafted by the Cowboys.
However, the rumors get amplified when you’re related to Archie, Eli, and Peyton Manning. That has been the case with Arch, who has been the apple of the media’s eye since he was the 5th-ranked high school recruit in ESPN’s Top 300.
With Dak Prescott injured, Manning’s 2026 stock rising, and his grandfather saying he’d prefer to see the Cowboys draft the Longhorn star, these whispers are louder than ever.
Family Matters: Archie Manning’s Comments
It has been quite some time since Archie Manning, the second overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, has been in the headlines. That changed yesterday when the Ole Miss legend and patriarch of the Manning football dynasty pushed the Arch-to-Dallas narrative.
In a video posted to social media, Manning is seen telling a reporter that if he could pick where his grandson goes, it would be the Cowboys.
It’s the first time Manning has been pressed on the subject publicly, and it is a rare moment where a draft prospect is being connected to a specific team two years before his draft class arrives.
Now, this “storyline” reminds me of an awful lot of the Sanders rumors that have sparked this season. Of course, Deion Sanders would want to be the Cowboys Head Coach if his son was the quarterback.
If the 75-year-old football legend could have his pick for his grandson, obviously, it would be Dallas. It’s the biggest job in football, and it would keep him in-state.
The problem for both Sanders and Manning is that the Cowboys have their quarterback in Dak Prescott.
Remain Realistic: Dak Prescott is QB1
While these storylines are fun to follow at times and can bring some hope to those who dislike Dak Prescott, his four-year contract extension should put these rumors to bed for now.
With so much time between now and Arch Manning’s draft class, things could absolutely change in his favor or in Prescott’s, but right now, the QB1 job is taken.
Jerry Jones knew Shedeur Sanders would be in the upcoming draft, and he extended Prescott regardless. He also knew that Arch Manning would be up for grabs in two years, and, you guessed it, he extended Prescott regardless.
Of course, Prescott, 31, is older than he used to be, but we can’t let this season’s outcome diminish what he did less than a year ago.
He came in second in MVP voting to Lamar Jackson, throwing 36 touchdowns to just nine interceptions; that record-breaking contract was well-deserved.
We all know Jones loves the dramatics, and finding a way to get Arch Manning would certainly match that. However, he also loves Prescott, and he just paid him a ton of money to be the long-term quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
Far Too Early: The Arch Manning Bottom Line
Beyond the Prescott factor and Archie Manning’s comments, there is one simple bottom line to any Arch Manning discussion: it is too damn early.
While he’s flashed his talent at Texas, the 19-year-old hasn’t even thrown 1,000 yards in his college career. With Quinn Ewers at the helm, Manning has yet to become the starter for the Longhorns.
We have no idea how the rest of his college career will turn out, nor do we know if Prescott will rebound to his 2023 form.
When Manning is closer to his draft day, and we don’t have to predict years in advance, a more realistic conversation regarding him could occur. Until then, however, this story is worth very little.