The NFL draft is still a couple months away and with that comes mock draft season and ESPN college football expert Mel Kiper threw his hat into the ring with some predictions, as he feels that Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be the top overall pick in the draft at number one in the first round to the Houston Texans, while Jake Matthews, Jadeveon Clowney and Blake Bortles follow.
Manziel leaves college as one of the most productive quarterbacks in SEC history and he also has the distinction of being the first freshman to win the Heisman trophy, which of course was seconded this season with Jameis Winston. Manziel gained over 4,000 total yards in back to back seasons and this year he had another great statistical performance and he also showed that he can handle being a pocket passer, as he ran the ball much less than last season. Kiper explained that Manziel's ability to scramble and make plays on the fly separates him from the other quarterbacks in the draft despite his size.
While Manziel is smaller than most quarterbacks, players like Drew Brees and Russell Wilson have shown that shorter quarterbacks can be successful. Manziel was extremely productive this season with 4,114 yards and 37 touchdowns while rushing for 759 yards and nine more touchdowns and while those numbers were down from last year overall, Manziel passed for more yards and showed off his arm to pro scouts with his play on the field. Manziel has over 10,000 yards and while Mel Kiper put him past the top 10 on his Big Board, that was not his mock draft and clearly he has high expectations for Manziel in workouts, which would be what spurs the Texans to draft him over someone like Bridgewater.
Kiper predicts in his first mock that two Texas A&M players will be the first selected in Manziel and Jake Matthews, who he slots with the St. Louis Rams in the pick they received in the trade with the Washington Redskins for Robert Griffin. Clowney is next off the board for the Jacksonville Jaguars and this comes after a down season in 2013 and that came after a strong 2012 season that saw him get consideration as a Heisman candidate and now he is going pro and Kiper predicts he will be the third pick. Blake Bortles is projected to go fourth overall to the Cleveland Browns and this comes after the UCF quarterback had a great game against Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl and now he is shooting up draft boards for teams. The Browns are in transition as they look for yet another franchise quarterback and now that Brandon Weeden is likely not the answer, Bortles could be next.
Kiper fills out his top five with Sammy Watkins next to the Raiders and that is such an Oakland pick you can see it now -- speed, explosiveness, potential -- and if the team can get a decent quarterback the Clemson receiver could be a star. Kiper has Teddy Bridgewater slipping down to eight to the Minnesota Vikings and while many mocks have him going first, it appears that the top quarterback question is coming down to the main three players in Manziel, Bortles and Bridgewater.
--Kiper's top 10 to start the 2014 draft season:
Houston Texans, Johnny Manziel
St. Louis Rams, Jake Matthews
Jadeveon Clowney, Jacksonville Jaguars
Cleveland Browns, Blake Bortles
Oakland Raiders, Sammy Watkins,
Atlanta Falcons, Anthony Barr, lb
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Khalil Mack, lb
Minnesota Vikings, Teddy Bridgewater
Buffalo Bills, Greg Robinson, ot
Detroit Lions, Justin Gilbert, cb