Arch Manning making more money than most NFL rookies without playing yet

Texas football star Arch Manning is earning more in NIL than most NFL rookie contracts.

Let’s just say it’s pretty good to be Arch Manning these days, or at the very least, his bank account.

The third generation of America’s football royal family enrolled at Texas back in January. While he is expected to compete for the Longhorns’ starting quarterback job with incumbent Quinn Ewers, Manning is already making a pretty penny when it comes to NIL. On3 has Manning pulling in over $3.7 million in NIL this year, edging out the likes of Caleb Williams, Travis Hunter and Drake Maye.

He is earning roughly $1.1 million more than USC’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback so far.

We have to accept that we live in a world where Power Five starting quarterbacks can make in the low seven figures in a given college football season. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? We shall see!

Arch Manning making more money in NIL than most NFL rookies’ contracts

Although we can deny it all we want, NIL is here to stay, and that is a fantastic thing. The long outdated model of amateurism doesn’t work anymore in the modern landscapes of a capitalistic society. However, there will come a time where there will be guardrails implemented in this new age of college sports. Eventually, water will find its level and college sports will adapt accordingly.

Personally, I have no issues with Manning making that much because that is what the market will dictate. Someone is willing to pay him that much on the prospects of what he can mean to Longhorn football in the future. However, his college experience will be vastly different than pretty much anyone outside of Ewers and Bijan Robinson who have most recently been at the university.

Frankly, Manning’s life experience is vastly different than pretty much anyone, given who his grandfather and uncles are. There is nothing wrong with that, but he faces insurmountable pressure that most of us cannot even fathom. In truth, I think we all want to see him succeed because he comes from a good family of good people with good intentions. It may not happen…

So instead of getting paid at 21, Manning will be able to cash his first massive pay checks at 18.

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