The paper work has been filed and Johnny Manziel is officially forgoing his NCAA eligibility and entering the NFL Draft in April. The former Heisman winner leaves behind two potential seasons left at Texas A&M to turn pro. Considered one of the most dynamic players in all of college football, could Manziel be the first player drafted over someone like quarterback Teddy Bridgewater?
Manziel certainly enters the draft with an impressive resume. He set a an SEC single-season record for total offense as a redshirt freshman with 5,116 yards including 1,410 rushing yards. He took home the Heisman trophy that year, the first freshman to ever win the award. But for all his impressive numbers, criticism is still around. Many NFL scouts have criticized his small frame and his unwillingness to be patient in the pocket as drawbacks to his unconventional style of play.
Manziel is a lock to be drafted in the first round this year, but could he go No. 1 overall? That decision will likely be left up to Bill O'Brien and the Houston Texans who hold the top pick. Houston does need a quarterback and aside from a potential trade, they will draft a player at the position with the first pick.
New head coach Bill O'Brien certainly has experience with great quarterbacks considering he spent a few seasons with Tom Brady. Now, he is looking for a quarterback that fits the Brady mold which may or may not include drafting a rookie. O'Brien does not care where the quarterback comes from, just as long as he is a "partner in the offense."
"I'd be getting texts, calls from Tom on Wednesday night about the third-down package,'' O'Brien said, via mmqb.com. "Thursday night I'd be hearing from him 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock about red-zone plays. Obviously, he's talented, but Tom never stopped thinking about football. When you coach Tom Brady, you're not coaching with him. You're a partner in the offense with him. That's the ideal for a quarterback - someone who cares about it as much as you do."
O'Brien notes there are so many scenarios the Texans could take regarding the position and draft. This year's class is very heavy on quarterback talent so the pressure is not necessarily there to take someone with the first pick. They could easily trade down in favor of another team's backup. Do not rule out a trade for Patriots' backup Ryan Mallett as well. He has spent the past two years learning under Brady and likely has picked up on a few of his ways.
O'Brien told reporters that he just got keys to the building. He and his newly formed staff will take plent of time to look over every option.