What if Arch Manning goes undrafted in 2027? It sounds like a wild scenario for a Heisman contender, but former Texas head coach Mack Brown has revealed how Steve Sarkisian is already building a safety net for Longhorns who don't hear their name called on draft day.
Manning entered the 2025 season as a Heisman frontrunner, but early inconsistencies knocked him out of the race. He rebounded late to finish strong, and that surge has pushed him back into the Heisman favorite discussion heading into 2026. If he builds on that momentum, he could easily position himself as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. But even if his draft stock were to slip, Sarkisian's track record shows he will still be in good hands.
On his "The Stempede" podcast, Brown spoke about how Sarkisian and his staff have consistently helped Longhorns find NFL homes, even when they weren't drafted. "As a head coach, you either put emphasis on your guys getting with a team or you don't," Brown said. "It's obvious that Sark has relationships with the NFL because he has a lot of players. It's unbelievable to have seven free agents. You had to work at that."
Brown explained that around the fifth round of the draft, agents and scouts start talking to each other about who's going to be a free agent. "A lot of guys would rather be a free agent so they can go where they want than be a seventh-round pick at a team they don't want to go to," he added. "But give Sark credit… I'm so impressed that Sark does that because this many guys wouldn't have been on teams without that Texas staff working the draft on the phone saying, 'You got to get my guy.'"
Sarkisian's draft results reflect that influence, as six Texas players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round. But Brown specifically praised the fact that seven Longhorns signed as undrafted free agents—a testament to the staff's relentless work behind the scenes. For any player wearing burnt orange, that kind of support is the ultimate game plan for success at the next level.