With all the focus on Geno Smith in the upcoming NFL draft, there is another quarterback slowly gaining team's attention. Former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel has visited a number of teams and is considered as the possible next best option for someone looking for a quarterback. He has worked out for the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, but it is the Philadelphia Eagles that will most likely target him if Smith is off the board.
The Eagles will draft at No.4 overall. The issue is that both the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars who selected first and second respectively are both targeting Smith. While Kansas City is likely just looking interested in order to drive up the interest on the quarterback, the Jaguars are in a legit need for a quarterback. Current starter Blaine Gabbert has yet to prove himself as a future franchise quarterback. Last season he threw for 1,662 and nine touchdowns. That will not be enough this coming season. The Jaguars intend on building quarterback competition on the team, and Smith would help with that.
If Smith goes off the board with the second pick, Manuel could find himself in Philly, something he says he feels very confident about.
"I feel really good about the Philadelphia Eagles, I feel really good about the Buffalo Bills, I feel really good about the New York Jets. I met with even more teams than that, but those are some of the teams I feel really confident in. I know they need quarterbacks, I know they want quarterbacks, they have brand new coaching staffs and things like that, so they want a fresh start. They want an energetic kind of quarterback to come in and play," Manuel said while on the Dan Patrick Show.
Manuel would be the picture-perfect Chip Kelly quarterback. He is mobile and would operate well in a read-option scenario. Last season, Manuel threw for 3,392 yards and 23 touchdowns, while rushing for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Many draft experts do not have Manuel pegged as a top-10 option, however if the Eagles are desperate for a quarterback, they will likely draft him right away.
