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Arch Manning, the highly regarded Texas Longhorns quarterback, has been one of the most talked-about names in college football.
With NFL speculation swirling, some fans in New Orleans have dreamed of a fairytale scenario where he follows in his grandfather Archie Manning's footsteps by playing for the Saints.
However, Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr recently poured cold water on that idea, arguing that the Manning family is not likely to such a move.
"Because he's not leaving Texas, folks," Orr wrote. "I think we all enjoy pairing the Mannings with NFL teams much in the way young Royal obsessives like matching future princesses with handsome Welsh princes, but the truth is that the Manning family probably abhors the idea of Arch playing for his grandfather Archie's franchise in his home state."
Orr believes that the family's strategic planning over the years makes it unlikely they'd allow Arch to shoulder the emotional and symbolic weight of reviving a team tied so closely to their legacy.
"Every chess move made by this football family has been to set up their kids with normal, successful lives, and placing the burden of his grandfather's franchise on Arch's shoulders would be deleterious to his progress at the next level," Orr added.
"My guess is that whichever franchise the Mannings bless, it'll be more about the general manager and head coach in place."
Past lessons could shape Arch Manning's NFL entry
Archie Manning, who played 11 seasons with the Saints during the 1970s and early 1980s, endured a brutal stretch with a team that was often near the bottom of the league.
He was sacked 378 times in 145 games - during an era that lacked today's protections for quarterbacks. Those years likely left a lasting impression on the Manning family and could explain their hesitancy to revisit the past with the same franchise.
Arch's possible return to Texas for another college season would echo the cautious, calculated approach the family has used before.
In 2004, Eli Manning, under his father's guidance, refused to play for the San Diego Chargers and was eventually traded to the New York Giants, where he won two Super Bowls. The family's reputation for navigating draft situations with a long-term view is well established.
In a similar historical precedent, John Elway, with his father Jack's backing, engineered a move away from the Baltimore Colts in 1983, eventually landing with the Denver Broncos.
Orr implies that if Arch skips the 2026 NFL Draft or resists a Saints selection, it would be part of a familiar pattern rather than a defiant gesture.
Even if Manning were to by New Orleans, the city and its fans are no strangers to setbacks and disappointment. While it may sting to see a homegrown talent land elsewhere, the Saints' loyal ers have weathered much worse.
For now, the franchise may have to look outside the Manning lineage for its next star quarterback.