Arch Manning came into the season with plenty of hype, but his opening game against Ohio State left fans and analysts questioning everything. After a shaky performance, many wondered if the highly touted quarterback was truly worth the draft buzz he’s been getting since high school.
The disappointment wasn’t just on the field either. His NIL valuation, according to On3, dropped by nearly half a million dollars ($485,000 to be exact) after Week 1. That kind of fall raised real concerns about whether one bad outing could derail the narrative around him.
With the 2026 NFL Draft still a season away, the big question is whether Manning’s stock will hold steady or take a significant hit. Fans have already started comparing his situation to Shedeur Sanders.
So, will Arch get that same treatment, or will this stumble linger over him? Shannon Sharpe weighed in.
Sharpe Dismisses Fifth-Round ‘Shedeur Treatment’ Notion
In a recent edition of Nightcap, Shannon Sharpe quickly shut down the idea that Arch Manning could fall to the fifth round like Shedeur. “That ain’t happening,” he laughed off the suggestion, making clear that Manning’s situation is leagues different.
Sharpe also emphasized that, unlike Sanders, “His family is not in dire need of anything,” implying that financial pressures won’t dictate Arch’s draft outcome, or the narrative around it.
While Manning’s shaky debut and the ensuing dip in his NIL value have stirred skepticism, Sharpe isn’t buying into the negativity. He sees a future star, not a flash-in-the-pan faller. And with the 2026 draft still on the horizon, Sharpe’s words may offer reassurance to fans watching Manning’s journey closely.
He explained it best by pointing out the different realities players come from: “A lot of times these families, you know, it’s like grandma over here, ain’t no food in the refrigerator, the house is leaking, we come on bro got to get out of here and I understand, I totally understand bro.”
That context matters. For prospects without financial security, entering the draft early, even if it means a lower round, can be a lifeline for their families. But Manning’s situation is the opposite.
His family’s resources allow him the patience to develop without pressure, something few athletes ever have. That’s why Sharpe is confident Arch won’t be forced into the kind of draft slide others face. In fact, he may not even declare for the draft if the season doesn’t go well.
For him, the draft will be dictated by performance and potential, not urgency to provide at home. This difference, Sharpe suggests, could ultimately protect Manning’s stock and keep him firmly in first-round conversations no matter how shaky his early college outings may look.