We're just a few days away from Johnny Manziel Mania going from talk to reality for the team that selects the former Texas A&M quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft. Where he goes remains a mystery at the moment, however, and speculation has the signal-caller going anywhere from first overall to the Houston Texans to out of the first round.
There has been a lot of recent talk that Manziel will not fall out of the top 10, and the Browns, who hold the fourth overall selection, are apparently quite taken with Johnny Football.
"Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has a love affair with Manziel," NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport said Monday on NFL Network's NFL Total Access Draft Preview. "(Haslam) has made no secret of this in several conversations, according to people I've spoken with over the last year or so. This is something Haslam has made very clear to people he speaks with. He's an SEC guy, a Tennessee grad, so obviously he's seen Manziel a ton. He loves the way he plays. Plus, there's the fact that he would fill seats."
The franchise heads into the draft looking to draft at least one quarterback to build around for the future. Brian Hoyer, who started three games last season, is recovering from ACL surgery and the team recently signed Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen as backups. About the only question left is whether the team will opt to use the fourth overall pick, their second first-rounder (No. 26 overall), an early second-round selection or entertain thoughts of trading to pick up a third first-round pick to select a signal-caller.
If the Browns opt to pass on Manziel at No. 4, despite the owner's love affair with him, they might have a quarterback in mind if Manziel, NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock's highest-rated player at the position, is off the board the next time they make a pick.
Rapoport said Monday the Browns would take a very hard look at former Louisville star Teddy Bridgewater if he's still available when they are on the clock at No. 26.
"From what I understand, the Browns really like (Bridgewater's) game, like the way he throws the ball," Rapoport said. "He is NFL-ready, but they do appreciate the fact that he could sit behind Brian Hoyer if he had to this year."
Manziel would certainly be the more popular pick among Cleveland fans and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has already endorsed Manziel. Bridgewater visited the team last month, and former Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr has been mentioned as a possibility for the team as well.
Thankfully, we don't have to wait long until we found out where all the quarterbacks will land. If Haslam has it his way, we might not have to wait long to hear Manziel's name called on draft night, either.
Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
