Jets fans pushing to tank for Arch Manning just got a reality check

Some New York Jets fans have already been eyeing the 2026 NFL Draft even before the 2025 season begins. The name circled at the top of many fans' boards has been Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

The supposed generational quarterback prospect has been touted as the next big thing in football, and for many, the dream scenario was simple. They want the Jets to tank in 2025, land Manning in 2026, and finally solve the team’s long-running quarterback woes.

But Saturday’s highly anticipated season debut from Manning and the Texans offense wasn’t the showcase many expected. Instead, the young quarterback struggled mightily on the road against Ohio State, leaving many wondering if they should pump the brakes on the hype.

Of course, one game doesn’t define a career, and the circumstances for his 2025 debut were incredibly challenging, but it was enough to raise questions about whether Manning is the slam-dunk franchise savior some have made him out to be and whether he'll even be part of the 2026 draft class at all.

Jets fans shouldn't look to Arch Manning as the savior

Manning finished the game 17-of-30 for 170 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, adding 38 yards on the ground as well. However, the box score numbers hardly tell the full story.

While Manning had a few nice throws late in the game, the Texas offense was abysmal for most of the day, with the former five-star recruit struggling to even top 50 passing yards until the second half.

Expectations were astronomically high for Manning entering Saturday's game to the point where anything short of victory and perfection would've been criticized. But it' safe to say that this was not the Louisiana native's best outing.

Now, it's always best not to overreact to one game from a 21-year-old quarterback in a nearly impossible road environment, but his lackluster day did reinforce the belief among many that Manning might be better off returning to college for another season.

Rumors have run rampant over the last few months that Manning would opt to return to Texas for his junior year regardless of what happens in 2025. That remains unconfirmed, but his performance on Saturday certainly didn't help change that narrative.

Jets fans will be keeping a close eye on the college ranks over the next few months as the team could be in a position to select a quarterback in next year's draft.

The Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract this past offseason, but few are under the impression that he's likely to be the long-term answer. Fields is a high-upside flier, but he's more likely to be a bridge starter than a true franchise QB at this stage.

That means the Jets could be targeting the position again in the 2026 NFL Draft. Manning might be QB1 on paper entering the year, but the uncertainty surrounding both his draft status and performance makes it clear that Jets fans shouldn't be laser-focused on one QB.

We have an entire season of football to play before we get to next year's draft. So much could change — both with the Jets and college football's top quarterbacks — before then that it isn't worth thinking about a "tank" before Week 1 even arrives.

For now, Jets fans are better off focusing on the roster in front of them rather than chasing a future that may never materialize

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