Tankathon’s latest 2027 NFL mock draft has the Atlanta Falcons selecting Texas quarterback Arch Manning with the No. 2 overall pick, pairing a famous name with a franchise still searching for long-term stability under center.
The projection places Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith first overall. Manning, listed at 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, follows immediately.
Manning has completed 67.2 percent of his passes this season for 500 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions, posting a 152.3 rating through the early slate.
Those numbers come after a 2025 campaign in which he threw for 3,163 yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 61.4 percent of his attempts.
Atlanta’s quarterback picture remains unsettled. Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall pick in 2024, has yet to lock down the job. The Falcons opened the 2026 season with Cooper Rush after Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out.
A high pick at the position would mark another swing after years of turnover. Kirk Cousins’ expensive tenure and Penix’s mixed results have left the organization evaluating options again.
Manning’s pedigree is unavoidable. He is the grandson of Archie Manning and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks.
Scouts have long praised his arm talent, size and athleticism. Questions remain about consistency, processing and accuracy under pressure.
Texas’ recent comeback against Ohio State offered a snapshot of both sides. Manning struggled early before helping the Longhorns erase a large deficit in the fourth quarter.
Tankathon updates its mock after every game and factors team needs into the board. The site currently has Atlanta picking later in some team-specific views, underscoring how fluid the order remains this early.
The Falcons hold their original first-round selection in 2027 plus additional mid-round picks after offseason trades. Compensatory selections could expand the haul further.
A Manning pick would give Atlanta a potential franchise quarterback to develop behind or alongside the current group. It would also shift resources away from other needs, including the offensive line and pass rush.
Jeremiah Smith’s presence at No. 1 would leave the Falcons a clear quarterback if they sit at No. 2. Dante Moore of Oregon and Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr sit just behind Manning on the same board.
The 2027 class is expected to be quarterback-heavy. Multiple first-round passers could come off the board in the top 10 if several teams finish near the bottom of the standings.
Atlanta is projected in some early models as a possible top-10 team, not a lock for the second pick. Records will decide the order. The season is only one week old.
Still, Tankathon’s board has already placed Manning in Falcons colors in the most prominent mock slot available after Smith. That pairing will fuel debate in Atlanta until the standings — and Manning’s tape — say otherwise.
The projection is one snapshot, not a contract. Mock drafts change weekly. Manning’s next starts and the Falcons’ next losses will rewrite it.
For now, the site’s No. 2 slot belongs to a Texas quarterback with a famous last name and a city that has spent years waiting for the next one to stick.
