Manning now has the reins of the Longhorns' offense, but what do evaluators think of him entering the season -- and when could he enter the NFL draft?

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.

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.