If there’s one word that defines the Cowboys’ 2024 season, it’s rumors. From Deion and Shedeur Sanders to Mike McCarthy, there has been plenty of gossip this year, and Arch Manning could be the next name on that list.

The Texas Longhorns quarterback, who hails from football royalty, has been loosely associated with Dallas for some time.

Anytime you have a Longhorns signal-caller with this much name recognition, fans and media are sure to speculate that he will be drafted by the Cowboys.

However, the rumors increase when you are related to Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning. That was the case with Arch, who has been in the media spotlight since finishing fifth in ESPN’s Top 300.

With Dak Prescott injured, Manning’s 2026 stock rising and his grandfather saying he’d rather the Cowboys draft the Longhorn star, those whispers are louder than ever.

Family Matters: Comments by Archie Manning

It’s been a while since Archie Manning, the second overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, was in the headlines. That changed yesterday when the Ole Miss legend and patriarch of the Manning football dynasty advanced the Arch-to-Dallas narrative.

In a video posted to social media, Manning can be seen telling a reporter that if he could choose where his grandson went, it would be the Cowboys.

It’s the first time Manning has been publicly pressed on the issue, and it’s a rare moment in which a draft prospect is linked to a specific team two years before his draft class arrives.

Well, this “storyline” reminds me of a lot of the Sanders rumors that have sparked this season. Of course, Deion Sanders would love to be the head coach of the Cowboys if his son was the quarterback.

If the 75-year-old soccer legend had a choice for his grandson, of course it would be Dallas. It’s the biggest job in football and would keep him in the state.

The problem for both Sanders and Manning is that the Cowboys have their quarterback in Dak Prescott.

Be realistic: Dak Prescott is QB1

While these storylines are sometimes fun to follow and can give some hope to those who don’t like Dak Prescott, his four-year contract extension should put those rumors to rest for now.

With so much time until Arch Manning’s draft class, things could very well change in his or Prescott’s favor, but for now the QB1 job is taken.

Jerry Jones knew Shedeur Sanders would be in the upcoming draft and extended Prescott anyway. He also knew that Arch Manning would be up for grabs in two years, and you guessed it, he extended Prescott anyway.

Of course, Prescott, 31, is older than he used to be, but we can’t let this season’s result detract from his performance less than a year ago.

He finished second to Lamar Jackson in MVP voting and threw 36 touchdowns with just nine interceptions; This record-breaking contract was well-deserved.

We all know Jones loves drama, and finding a way to get Arch Manning would certainly fit that. However, he also loves Prescott, and he just paid him a lot of money to become the Dallas Cowboys’ long-term quarterback.

Far too early: Arch Manning’s conclusion

Aside from the Prescott factor and Archie Manning comments, there’s one simple conclusion to any discussion of Arch Manning: It’s pretty darn early.

While he showcased his talent at Texas, the 19-year-old has yet to throw for 1,000 yards in his college career. With Quinn Ewers at the helm, Manning has yet to become the starter for the Longhorns.

We have no idea how the rest of his college career will pan out, nor do we know if Prescott will return to his 2023 form.

As Manning’s draft day approaches and we don’t have to predict years in advance, a more realistic conversation about him could happen. Until then, however, this story is worth very little.