Somebody other than Texas quarterback Arch Manning led Todd McShay's initial mock for the 2026 NFL draft. The Ringer's draft expert projected the New York Jets to select LSU's Garrett Nussmeier with the No. 1 overall pick. Manning was conspicuous by his absence in the first round altogether.

It’s not like the old days, where a guy like Arch Manning would have needed to wait for the NFL to get paid. But many teams are reportedly very interested in having him behind center in the future. However,

Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas may not be a finished football product just yet, but the Illini were fortunate to coax him back to Champaign after an offseason in which coach Bret Bielema intimated that he had been offered bug NIL money by other programs.