SEC Powerhouse Produces Pair Of Top Three Picks In Way Too Early 2026 Mock Draft

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, one major SEC program is projected to have two players land within the top-three picks.

Georgia and Texas paced the conference in this year's draft with 13 and 12 picks, respectively, helping the SEC set an NFL draft record with 79 players taken over seven rounds.

The Bulldogs and Longhorns' draft production didn't come as a surprise, as the two met in the SEC championship before going on to make College Football Playoff appearances last season.

For the Longhorns and head coach Steve Sarkisian, it was the most players taken in one draft in program history, and more history could be made in next year's draft.

According to a way-too-early mock draft from CBS Sports' Josh Edwards, Texas is projected to produce its fourth-ever No.

1 overall pick in quarterback Arch Manning.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.Scott Wachter-Imagn ImagesManning (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) signed with the Longhorns as a five-star recruit that was rated as the No.

1 overall player in the 2023 class.

He played sparingly while backing up starter Quinn Ewers, but will take on the starting role in 2025.

In two starts as a redshirt freshman last season, Manning completed 69.4% of his passes for 805 yards with eight touchdowns to two interceptions while adding 86 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

CBS Sports projects Manning to land to the New Orleans Saints with the first pick in 2026.

It would be a homecoming for the Louisiana native, who's grandfather, Archie Manning, played 11 seasons for the Saints after being taken with the second overall pick in 1971.

Manning was the last quarterback to be taken in the first round by the Saints.

Projected to come off the board with the No.

3 overall pick to the New York Giants is Texas star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.

Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.

(0) Aaron E MartinezAmerican-Statesman USA TODAY NETWORKHill (6-foot-3, 237 pounds) signed with the Longhorns as a five-star recruit and the No.

1 linebacker in the class of 2023.

The Denton, Texas native went on to earn Freshman All-American honors before a career year in 2024.

Hill led the SEC in tackles for loss (17) and forced fumbles (4) while totaling 113 tackles, eight sacks, an interception and a pass breakup in 16 games as a sophomore.

Manning and Hill still have a long way to go before hearing their names called in the NFL draft, especially if they elect to return to Texas for the 2026 season.

All things considered, though, the Longhorns roster for the 2025 season should be good enough for a shot at a third consecutive playoff appearance at the very least.

Related: Greg McElroy Reveals Why Arch Manning Is Not A Top 10 QB In College Football.

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