It seems as if everybody is interested in weighing in with their views on Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who’s a candidate to not only be a first-round pick in May’s draft but a potential No. 1 overall selection.
Earlier in the week, ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski sent shockwaves through the NFL world when he said he wouldn’t draft Manziel until after the third round. His argument: “I’m not crazy about him, to be honest with you. I’ve only looked at five games. I wouldn’t take him in the first three rounds. That’s my opinion. It’s incomplete right now. But he has not done a whole lot to me.”
Now a former college and NFL coach is chiming in. Former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer told “The Morning After” radio show he isn’t a fan of Manziel and his off-the-field antics, and proceeded to call the former Heisman Trophy winner “arrogant.”
Barry Switzer on @TMASTL: “I don’t like Johnny Manziel’s antics. I think he’s an arrogant little prick.”
— Tim McKernan (@tmckernan) February 26, 2014
He wasn’t done there …
“He’s a privileged kid, he’s embarrassed himself, he’s embarrassed his teammates, he’s embarrassed his coaches,” Switzer added.
“For whatever his antics are… he’s the best that I’ve seen. I have never seen a quarterback in college football… control of the game like he does and put up the numbers he does. It is fantastic what he’s done, against good competition. Game after game after game he puts numbers up that are staggering….. He’s the most dominant, most dynamic college quarterback I’ve ever seen in a long, long time.”
The Cleveland Browns are one of the team’s interested in drafting Manziel, perhaps with the No. 4 overall pick. Previously, there were reports indicating owner Jimmy Haslam is a fan of Manziel would be willing to trade up to grab him if need be. New reports, however, suggest differently.
Former scout and current NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah told “The Dan Patrick Show” said the Browns are very interested in Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr. XN Sports rates Carr has the No. 4 signal-caller behind Teddy Bridgewater, Manziel, and Blake Bortles, and most mock drafts project him coming off the board in Round 2.
If Cleveland elects to wait for Carr in the second round, it does open up the chances they go in a different direction with their first-round selection. And longtime NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell suggests the team should go after this year’s prized wide receiver.
Cosell said Clemson’s Sammy Watkins is better than any quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.
“If he is there, I would take Sammy Watkins before I would take a quarterback,” Cosell said on “The Herd.” “I think this is not a very good quarterback class, but I do think Sammy Watkins is that good.” That last line is not a positive for teams with a quarterback need, as the NFL is coming off a somewhat down quarterback draft in 2013. Other reports have stated that the Browns want to draft Derek Carr with their second first-round pick.”
The No. 2 pick in the draft remains a mystery, as reports indicate the St. Louis Rams are willing to trade out of the slot. According to Sports Illustrated’s MMQB, the Rams have the chance to trade out and are very interested in doing so.
This all goes hand-in-hand with the fact the ’14 draft is the most unpredictable one we’ve seen in years. Depending on who the Houston Texans nab with the top pick, teams eyeing Jadeveon Clowney or a quarterback — or even Jake Matthews or Watkins — could be looking to move up grab their guy.
