The relationship between Minnesota Vikings first-year coach Mike Zimmer and former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has not failed to produce drama throughout the scouting process.
Entering Manziel’s Pro Day, the Vikings were reportedly monitoring his character. Then after, Zimmer criticized Manziel’s Pro Day workout for all of the rap being played in the backdrop, calling it a “sideshow.”
Now there’s another wrinkle in the story. Zimmer told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that “some flags” came up during the interview process.
“We asked him all kinds of questions. … There are some flags that come up,” Zimmer said. “All of the things that happened out in Los Angeles, the commercials and all that stuff; the position of quarterback in the NFL is such an important position and the reason these guys need to be a totally football-minded guy is the pressure of the position and being the face of an NFL team and doing everything right.
“I guess the thing you have to figure out is, is this just another part of the things that happened a couple of years ago after he won the Heisman Trophy or is he just a different person as far as wanting the limelight or just wanting to prove that he can do things the right way. I guess it maybe brings a few questions marks in.”
The Vikings, who need a quarterback, will likely not be considering Manziel with the eighth overall pick.
As for the second overall pick, the St. Louis Rams have a number of options to explore. The team could trade out of their spot or elect to take the player of their choosing, perhaps Auburn tackle Greg Robinson or Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins.
The Rams are projected to nab Robinson in the XN Mock Draft 1.0, but if they don’t move out of the spot, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has advice for the team.
Re: Clemson draft guys: Dabo told Rams not to be team that regretted passing on Sammy. Says Thomas will eventually be G but could help at T.
— Travis Haney (@TravHaneyESPN) March 31, 2014
Asked who the draft’s most riskiest player is, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. said it was Alabama’s Cyrus Kouandjio.
Medical red flags surfaced around Kouandjio after the NFL Scouting Combine after a failed physical, but those reports were quickly shot down by Alabama’s team doctors. But Kiper believes Kouandjio may have a trouble holding up physically once he makes it the professional ranks, saying the potential first-rounder carries “a bit of a risk.”
“For one, there are questions about how well he’ll hold up physically, particularly with his knees, and his injury history isn’t completely clean,” Kiper wrote. “Secondly, he didn’t really take a step forward in performance this season, with some sloppiness in his technique, and I’d say his run blocking is ahead of his pass blocking at this point. He was once a first-round lock, but if he goes there now, I’d call it a bit of a risk.”
