Buzz around former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel has been very slim. With Geno Smith and Matt Barkley generating all of the media attention, Manuel has been hanging in the shadows, waiting for his moment to shine. Following a strong performance at the Senior Bowl and good combine workouts, Manuel is now being looked at by the Cleveland Browns as a possible option at quarterback.
Manuel has been climbing the draft boards and is now projected as a possible first-round pick for a team that might not get their hands on Smith or Barkley. Manuel ran a blazing 4.59 40-yard dash at the combine and is seen as the next best dual-threat quarterback. His skills can be compared to recent stars like Colin Kaepernick or Russell Wilson. He has a strong arm and is an accurate deep passer.
Manuel spent two years as a backup to Christian Ponder before stepping into the starting role for two years. In 2012, Manuel passed for 3,392 yards and 23 touchdowns, while having a 68.0 percent passer rating. He only had 10 interceptions.
Despite having just signed Jason Campbell to a two-year deal, the Browns are not finished with their quarterback search. Colt McCoy is likely to be released or traded in the coming days, leaving an open roster spot. The Browns draft No. 6 overall and are reported interested in using that for a quarterback. The team is traveling to Tallahassee to conduct a private workout with Manuel.
The Browns are spending a lot of time looking at marquee quarterbacks to draft. Offensive coordinator was impressed with Barkley's Pro Day and the team has also visited Smith for a workout. Smith will likely be off the board by the second pick and Barkley is rumored to go as high as three if the Raiders want him. That leaves Manuel the best option for the Browns if they do intend on drafting a quarterback.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals are also planning visits to see Manuel work out prior to the draft. It seems unlikely that the Bengals will draft Manuel in the first round since they do have Andy Dalton who has performed well. The Eagles are interested in drafting a quarterback, but not likely with their first pick. It would set up Cleveland perfectly to be able to get Manuel and place him in a quarterback competition within the team.
