The New England Patriots have visits with potential first-round draft picks scheduled with Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater Wednesday.
The Patriots don’t exactly have a glaring need at quarterback — someone named Tom Brady has a really solid grasp on that job — but perhaps the team is looking forward to the Post-Brady Era or is in the market for more depth at the position.
Source: Johnny Manziel spotted in New England, set for a visit with the #Patriots tomorrow. Agent @ErikBurkhardt would not confirm.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2014
Wow. Teddy Bridgewater is visiting the #Patriots tomorrow, source says. It’s not just Johnny Football in Foxboro.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 2, 2014
Previously, New England hosted former Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles, another quarterback who could come off the board in the first round. According to Yahoo! Sports, it’s still unlikely the team will land any of the three quarterbacks unless they fall to the Pats with the 29th overall pick, but Bill Belichick may envision one of them in Foxborough somewhere down the line.
What are the chances high that Manziel or Bridgewater will be drafted by the Patriots this year? Not high. They pick 29th in the first round, and even if one of them slips unexpectedly, it would be unlikely they’d be in a position to take him there. But you never know.
And in three or four years from now, who knows? Maybe either Manziel or Bridgewater is the kind of guy Belichick sees something truly special in and wants to get to know for down the road. Or maybe Belichick just likes messing with people. Whatever his approach, his compass typically is pointed in the right direction.
The Minnesota Vikings may be out of the running for one of the aforementioned top three quarterbacks, according to TFY Draft Insider. Instead the team may be eyeing Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack in the first round.
Word from several sources; Minnesota Vikings heavily leaning towards Zach Mettenberger/QB/LSU in 2nd, looking for LB (Khalil Mack/UB) in 1st
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) April 1, 2014
The Vikings have a strong chance of landing either Bortles, Bridgewater or Manziel sitting at No. 8, but may need a little luck in order for Mack to get past teams linked to the edge rusher such as the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mettenberger has increasingly shot up draft boards as the top quarterback not expected to be taken in the first round. Minnesota also holds the No. 20 overall pick.
