The NFL analysts over at ESPN have made some questionable comments in regards to May’s draft in recent weeks. Merrill Hoge, for instance, said Johnny Manziel has “bust written all over him,” and stated he’d take Michael Sam over likely top-three pick Jadeveon Clowney.
Now quarterback guru Ron Jaworski has grabbed some headlines, as he released his prospect rankings.
According to Jaws, Central Florida’s Blake Bortles is the top signal-caller, and right behind him is LSU’s Zach Mettenberger. Jaws called Mettenberger “the wildcard” of the draft, as the former LSU standout was considered a potential first-round back midway through the college football season before tearing his ACL.
“This is the wildcard in this draft,” Jawroski said. “When you watch him on tape, this guy has an NFL skill set — very similar traits in Zach Mettenberger as Joe Flacco.”
Johnny Manziel earned a lot of positive reviews after the Texas A&M Pro Day Thursday. One NFL head coach, though, left unimpressed.
First-year Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told the Houston Chronicle all of the rap music playing in the background of Manziel’s workout was “sideshow stuff.” Zimmer also felt the quarterback’s throws were too choreographed, none like he has ever seen before, and left with a bad taste in his mouth.
“The huddles and the different things and the music. The sideshow stuff,” Zimmer said. “It was a sideshow … It was a different workout. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it.”
Zimmer previously said he was going to monitor Manziel’s character during the Pro Day. If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem as if Johnny Football passed the test.
The St. Louis Rams drafted a pair of wide receivers during the 2013 draft, including former No. 8 overall selection Tavon Austin. And while Rams coach Jeff Fisher had nothing but positive reviews of Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins, it doesn’t look likely the team will be picking him with the No. 2 overall pick.
Fisher told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he believes the team has enough wide receivers on the roster, and is confident about the progress made by third-year products Brian Quick and Chris Givens. He also expects more contributions out of Austin and Stedman Bailey.
“I think with what we have on the roster right now, we can provide Sam (Bradford) with the talent to where we can win a lot of games,” Fisher said. “We’re expecting improvement. We’re still seeing improvement from (receivers), for example, Brian Quick, Chris Givens who are going into their third year.
“We expect significant improvement and more contribution from Tavon and Stedman. And I’m not disappointed in any way in what Austin Pettis has done in a backup role.”
One move the Rams could make to upgrade its receiving corps is adding Kenny Britt, who Fisher drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft. Previously, Rams general manager Les Snead pegged the team’s chances of landing Britt as better than 50 percent.
