Arch Manning remains one of the biggest names tied to the 2027 NFL Draft, but one mock draft has the Dallas Cowboys passing on him. (Image via Getty Images)
A 2027 NFL Mock Draft just handed the Dallas Cowboys the kind of decision that would dominate draft night: Arch Manning is available, and Dallas says no. 8 pick and select Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker. 15. The Cowboys already have Dak Prescott , who is 33, under center. Arch Manning has not announced that he will enter the 2027 NFL Draft.
“I don’t expect the Cowboys to pay top dollar to keep George Pickens as their WR2 across from CeeDee Lamb, and if he ends up leaving in the offseason, they’ll need a capable replacement,” Easterling wrote. His uncle, former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, recently told Colin Cowherd that staying in college can offer more than another season of development. At least, that is how Luke Easterling sees it. In his latest mock draft for Athlon Sports, the Cowboys hold the No. Manning remains on the board before eventually going to the Cleveland Browns at No. Easterling’s projection is built around Dallas’ roster and salary decisions rather than the Manning name. A quarterback like Manning would still create obvious intrigue, especially with Jerry Jones running the franchise. However, Easterling believes Dallas will have a more immediate need at wide receiver. His reasoning centers on George Pickens. That makes Becker the pick in his projection. The Manning part of the scenario also comes with a major condition. The Texas quarterback still has another year of college eligibility.
Manning completed 73 of 115 passes for 862 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions through Texas’ first four games of 2026. The Longhorns started 4-0 and climbed to No. 1 after wins over Ohio State and Tennessee. Easterling described the Indiana receiver as a 6-foot-4, 208-pound target with the size, athleticism and body control to win contested catches. Becker caught 34 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns last season while averaging 20 yards per reception. Through four games in 2026, he had already recorded 19 catches for 370 yards and six touchdowns. It also creates the kind of Arch Manning decision that could become far more complicated if he declares for the 2027 NFL Draft. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule .
The Cowboys scenario is therefore hypothetical twice over.
“Every year it’s an opportunity to play more games, get more prepared for the NFL, to win an SEC championship, to be a captain of the team,” Eli Manning said. “I believe he should come back for another year,” Griffin said on “The Herd. I don’t know of any teams that really can pay two top receivers top of the market,” Jones said. “Certainly, if everything works out the way we think it is, which CeeDee and George both have huge years again, then it’ll be a bigger challenge next year,” Jones said.
Robert Griffin III has also argued that Manning should return to Texas for another season. “When guys are ready to go to the NFL, playing college football looks easy for them. For myself when I came out, when Andrew Luck came out, it looked easy in our last years. It doesn’t look easy for Arch yet. Dallas would need to pick in that range, and Manning would first need to declare. The Pickens question gives Easterling’s projection its logic. Dallas already has CeeDee Lamb on a major contract, and Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones has publicly acknowledged how difficult paying two elite receivers could become. “The situation we have with George Pickens going alongside CeeDee.. He also described Pickens’ next contract as a challenge Dallas will eventually have to address if the receiver continues producing. That is where Becker enters the picture. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Those numbers give Dallas a potential route to replacing Pickens without committing another major contract to the position. The bigger question remains whether the Cowboys would actually make that choice with Manning sitting on the board. For now, Easterling’s mock draft gives Dallas a receiver solution. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.