Johnny Manziel's ability to wheel around and improvise plays has had analysts comparing him to several NFL quarterbacks, past and present. Among the more popular comparisons has been Fran Tarkenton, the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback who, like Manziel, made a living off hurting defenses on broken plays.
Apparently, Tarkenton approves.
Shortly after Manziel officially announced he would enter the 2014 NFL Draft, Tarkenton took to Twitter and gave his thumbs up to the quarterback as well as the comparison. "Manziel is a football savant," he tweeted. "Can't teach what he does."
Tarkenton, for one, is hoping his former team targets Manziel in the draft.
The Vikings, who finished 5-10-1 this season, will have the eighth pick in the draft, and NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes they will use their first pick on a quarterback.
Whether Manziel will still be on the board is uncertain. According to Jeremiah, four of the teams drafting ahead of Minnesota -- Houston at No. 1, Jacksonville at No. 3, Cleveland at No. 4, and Oakland at No. 5 -- have a need at quarterback. The Browns in particular are reportedly very high on Manziel.