While others must be living in 2025, the NFL suitors are already living a year ahead, in 2026. The reason behind them living in the future? The Texas Longhorns star QB Arch Manning. Looks like the third-generation flagbearer of the Manning legacy is already tinkling a poaching sensation among the NFL scouts. At least the pictures that have gone viral from Texas Pro Day hint at it. The interested program in this case is the 2x Super Bowl champ. Now the hype for Manning is real. After all, he comes off as the biggest threat for a $90 million NFL star. Meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian’s QB got lucky to get an advantage out of his $6.5 million NIL value.
Now, do you get that feeling when you are so good at a certain thing but will have to wait longer to reach eligibility? Yes, that’s the case for Manning, too. Now that he has stepped into the 2025 season, he will be staking his claim as the top quarterback available to be drafted. After all, he carries a rich legacy. His uncles, Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, were both selected as No.1 overall in their respective drafts. The legacy dates back to Manning’s grandfather, Archie Manning, who was drafted No. 2 overall out of Ole Miss. So, it’s obvious that the talent to prove himself in the pro league runs in his blood, leaving the NFL scouts to swarm around him. Like they did on March 25.
Rivals.com posted some snaps from the event. It showed Manning busy chatting with Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead. The caption of the post captured the question that is looming in Manning’s fans’ hearts: “Rams QB1.” Now, there are enough hints to believe that Manning did woo the suitors. After all, the Texas Pro Day featured 21 players—an impressive seven more than those who attended the NFL combine earlier this month. Yet Manning, in spite of not being draft-eligible, caught Snead’s attention. The fact that the GM’s son Tate Haver plays for Texas, he has a fair idea of how Manning is on and off the gridiron. Now, what makes the Rams’ HC plan this early?
The last time Los Angeles won the Super Bowl was in 2022. However, they look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender heading into next season. Plus, their QB Matthew Stafford will be 38 years old this time next year, and his days are clearly coming to a close in the somewhat near future. Here, Manning might take up the reins as his talent would continue stabilizing success for the Rams under head coach Sean McVay. After all, the 6’4” and 220-pounder brings a talented arm and tremendous athleticism to the table. Do you remember what Greg McElroy said? “He’s [Manning] the guy that is best positioned to challenge Patrick Mahomes at the next level.” While the Texas QB has already tapped into the NFL hype mode, let’s take a look at his rich fortune reserve and how he keeps them safe.
Arch Manning’s smart move to save his pocket
Going by On3’s list of NIL Valuations, Manning holds the first position among college football players with a valuation of $6.5 million. And guess what? He is only 19 years old. However, when it comes to choosing his program, he is no longer a teen. Rather a pro. Turns out that he had done his own background research before finalizing the deal with Sarkisian’s squad. Out of all the big factors, it is possible that taxation propelled him to commit to the Longhorns.
Now, just as the tax system goes, just like you have to pay tax even if you are a CEO or just a salaried person, student athletes too fall in that category now that they are earning via NIL. The tax rate varies from 10% for low-income earners to 37% percent for the upper strata. But it varies from state to state. In 2025, California has the highest state income tax rate (13.3%), per a Tax Foundation chart. However, Texas is among the eight states that have no income tax. Time to bring our calculators out!
Had Arch Manning played for any state other than Texas and the rest seven, he would have been paying around $2.3 million in 2024 in taxes. That would have left him with approximately $4 million. Things would have been far worse had he opted for Georgia or Alabama, where he would owe approximately $350,000 or $200,000 more in state income taxes, respectively. That’s how the 19-year-old brought his mind games into play.
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