The Manning family comparisons have followed Arch Manning everywhere. Now one analyst is steering the conversation in a different direction entirely.
Emory Hunt, appearing on the Ross Tucker Podcast, argued that the Texas Longhorns quarterback is better understood through the lens of Alex Smith's early career than through any connection to his uncles Peyton and Eli. Manning is widely projected as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Hunt has been making this comparison for two years. "The best comp for him, for me — and I've been on this for two years now — is Alex Smith," Hunt said. "And people forget how Alex Smith was at Utah, that made him a No. 1 overall pick. He was a dual-threat athlete, big-body guy. And then he started to find his sea legs when he got with [former 49ers head coach Jim] Harbaugh and they put a system around him and he was able to have the best success before he went on and had even more success in his career. So I feel like he's more Alex Smith than what everybody else is trying to make him out to be."
Hunt also addressed Manning's arm. "I don't think he has the strongest arm… the best comp for him is Alex Smith," he said.
The comparison carries a specific historical context. Smith was selected first overall by San Francisco in 2005 out of Utah, where he operated as a mobile, dual-threat quarterback. His early years with the 49ers were uneven. The trajectory changed when Jim Harbaugh arrived as head coach in 2011. That season, Smith threw for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns against just five interceptions, completing 61.3% of his passes, as San Francisco finished 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game. Over his full run with the 49ers, Smith threw for 14,280 yards with 81 touchdowns and 63 interceptions across 80 games.
Manning is coming off his second full season as Texas' starter. Whether he develops into a true franchise passer or a system-dependent starter remains one of the more debated questions heading into his draft evaluation, according to Yahoo Sports. The 2027 draft is still months away, but Manning's profile is already generating significant attention from analysts and scouts.
