We are going to deep dive into the potential top three prospects in this upcoming pml draft. The season two draft is always very important for each teams cycle. Without knowing the class or seeing combine it is always tough to predict the future but the three prospects we will look at today are almost assured to be three of the top / most coveted prospects even if they don’t go 1,2,3 in the draft order. If they do not come out this year, the following will remain for the season three draft.
Arch Manning- Qb
A quarterback from the University of Texas, stands at 6’4″ and weighs 225 pounds. Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Manning comes from a storied football lineage as the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning. During his high school career at Isidore Newman School, he was a four-time all-state honoree and broke school records previously held by his uncles.
In high school, Manning amassed over 8,500 passing yards and 115 touchdowns, adding another 1,155 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground. He was rated the No. 1 recruit nationally by multiple outlets and participated in the 2022 U.S. Army Bowl. His accolades include being named the Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year and selection to the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team.
As a redshirt freshman at Texas in 2024, Manning appeared in four games, completing 14 of 18 passes for 318 yards and five touchdowns. He accounted for seven total touchdowns, including a notable 67-yard rushing score against UTSA. Manning’s performance earned him SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors, the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week, and selection to the Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 list.
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
- Exceptional arm talent with the ability to make all throws required at the NFL level
- Impressive deep ball accuracy, consistently giving receivers opportunities to make plays downfield
- Surprising speed, athleticism and mobility, showcasing the ability to extend plays and gain yards on the ground
- Advanced footwork for his age, demonstrating solid mechanics in the pocket
- High football IQ and pedigree, having been groomed for the quarterback position since childhood
- Poise and composure under pressure, able to rebound from mistakes and maintain focus
- Prototypical NFL size at 6’4″ and 225 pounds, providing durability and vision from the pocket
- Quick release and ability to throw from various arm angles, adapting to pressure situations
- Strong deep ball accuracy, consistently delivering on vertical routes.
- Demonstrates leadership qualities and maturity beyond his years.
SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES
- Tendency to lock onto primary receivers, occasionally telegraphing throws.
- Limited college starting experience with only one start under his belt.
- Needs to improve progression reads and working through multiple options.
- Occasionally holds onto the ball too long, resulting in unnecessary hits.
- Decision-making can be inconsistent when forcing throws into coverage.
Although he will not be the freak athlete we have seen in the qb position recently, some would say he is the most polished pro ready qb since Andrew Luck.
Nico Iamaleava- Qb
Measuring at 6’6″, 215-pound quarterback from Long Beach, California, is a dynamic athlete with exceptional physical attributes and a strong football pedigree. Coming from a family with a rich athletic background, he has siblings who have excelled in sports like volleyball and football. At Warren High School, Iamaleava was a consensus five-star prospect and one of the top quarterback recruits nationally, ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2023 by On3.
During his high school career, he threw for over 5,900 yards and 79 touchdowns, adding significant rushing yards and scores. His senior year stats included 1,726 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, along with 399 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He was named the 2022 Polynesian High School Player of the Year and earned Offensive MVP honors at the Polynesian Bowl.
At the University of Tennessee, Iamaleava redshirted his freshman year in 2023, serving as the backup quarterback and appearing in five games. He made his first collegiate start in the 2024 Citrus Bowl, leading the Volunteers to a 35-0 victory over Iowa and earning MVP honors. In the 2024 season, he has started nine games, throwing for over 1,700 yards and multiple touchdowns while also contributing on the ground. His accolades include being named SEC Freshman of the Week three times and earning spots on several watch lists, including the Maxwell Award and the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
- Exceptional arm strength allows for effortless deep ball throws, stretching defenses vertically and opening up the offense
- Impressive mobility for his size, with the ability to extend plays and pick up crucial yards on the ground
- Quick release and natural throwing motion, enabling him to get the ball out fast in pressure situations
- Excellent height at 6’6″ provides a clear view over the offensive line and aids in scanning the field
- Demonstrated poise and leadership in high-pressure situations, as evidenced by his Citrus Bowl MVP performance
- Versatile skill set allows for effective execution in both pro-style and spread offensive schemes
- High level football IQ and ability to read defenses, showing improvement throughout his college career
- Highly productive in limited playing time, indicating potential for even greater output with more experience
SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES
- Lean frame at 215 pounds; adding muscle mass could enhance durability at the next level.
- Needs to improve consistency in short to intermediate passing accuracy.
- Limited collegiate starting experience with only a handful of starts to date.
- Tendency to rely on arm strength, occasionally forcing throws into tight coverage.
- Footwork can become inconsistent under pressure, affecting throwing mechanics.
Nico has been in the spotlight for a few years, as he was one of the first big Nil deals and was highly talked about. He has kept his composure throughout the process and should be a great pick for any Qb needy team.
Nyck Harbor, WR
Frankly, Harbor is one of the most unique prospects in recent history, regardless of position. Legitimately 6-5, 240, Harbor is a potential Olympic sprinter who recently ran a baffling 10.12-second 100-meter time for South Carolina track, in addition to living below the 21.00-second 200-meter threshold. The “freak” label gets thrown around a lot in today’s scouting world, but this man may be the definition of it. Scouts talk about him being a bigger faster Julio Jones. He has under produced in college but teams will draft him high based on his size speed combo as those are just things you cannot teach.
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
- World class speed
- High points the football
- Size and catch radius similar to megatron
- Mismatch nightmare for any secondary
- Raw talent that has the upside almost higher than any player we have seen before.
SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES
- Limited route tree
- Limited college starts and stats
- Very raw at the position has trouble in and out of breaks
- Has issues with drops
- Does not break as many tackles as you would think for his size
Whoever takes him will be hoping for the combination of Tyreek Hill speed and Calvin Johnson size. It remains to be seen if he has the true talent of either, but the potential is there and that will be more then enough for many teams.
Check back in for a mock draft in the upcoming days.
