Johnny

Manziel

“He did a really nice job in there. He was prepared for the interview, very prepared,” Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said. “We’ve found nothing that’s come across as a fatal flaw to us.” Raiders owner Mark Davis was said to be “very impressed” after Oakland’s 15-minute sit-down with Johnny Football. The Jaguars and Raiders hold the third and fifth picks, respectively, in May’s draft.

That, of course, is different than the Browns won’t be drafting Manziel period. The Browns also pick at No. 26 and 35. Appearing on FOX Sports Radio, Glazer was mostly firm that the Browns won’t be taking the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, but the wording of his subsequent tweets leaves open the possibility of a later selection or trade down. Glazer also ruled at the Raiders at No. 5 as a potential Manziel landing spot.

The quarterbacks coach for the Jets in 2014, Lee campaigned against drafting Manziel, but his few weeks with the quarterback in the AAF changed his mind. “My short experience with him was tremendous,” Lee said. “He loves football. Gosh, he loves it. And he wants to be good.” It still seems unlikely Manziel ever gets another shot in the NFL, but this endorsement does not hurt.

This officially allows Manziel to become an active player in the AAF. The San Antonio Commanders would typically have first dibs on the former No. 22 overall pick since Texas A&M, Manziel’s alma mater, is an area school San Antonio was initially given college allegation rights to, but the Commanders notably released the ex-Browns play-caller’s rights, allowing Manziel to hit standard league waivers. Whatever team he lands on will immediately become must-watch television.

The San Antonio Commanders relinquished Manziel’s rights, paving his path to Memphis. Manziel is expected to report to the team on Sunday. Depending on his level of fitness, Johnny Football should have a chance to see the field right away. The quarterback position has been a revolving door for the Express, who benched Jets bust Christian Hackenberg for Zach Mettenberger early in the season, only for Mettenberger to get hurt in Saturday’s loss to Salt Lake. The former Heisman Trophy winner disappointed during his short stay in Canada, compiling only five touchdowns with seven interceptions over an eight-game stint with Montreal.

“I look forward to exploring new options within the United States,” Manziel said. The NFL has no interest in Manziel, who was terrible in the CFL, but perhaps the AAF could be in play. It is believed the San Antonio Commanders would have the first shot at Manziel if he were to want to play in the AAF. The Commanders have been rotating Logan Woodside and Marquis Williams under center with no real success. Manziel would be a popular draw for fans, if nothing else.

“He’s a random quarterback who likes to get out of the pocket and make plays with his legs,” Jaws said. “In the NFL, he won’t last three games playing that style. He’ll get hurt. He took a lot of vicious hits at A&M in the last two years.” This comes after Jaws said he wouldn’t take Manziel “in the first three rounds” of May’s draft. ESPN’s QB guru says Manziel has developed such a habit of leaving the pocket that NFL teams may not be able to coach it out of him. Jaws also cited inconsistent mechanics. Manziel’s still going to be an early first-rounder.

“I’m not crazy about him, to be honest with you,” Jaws said of the potential No. 1 overall pick. “I’ve only looked at five games. I wouldn’t take him in the first three rounds. That’s my opinion. It’s incomplete right now. But he has not done a whole lot to me.” Jaws is known for his strong — and often accurate — opinions on quarterbacks, but it’s surprising he’d go to the extreme of calling Manziel a day-three pick. Manziel has the potential to be one of the most dissected and over-analyzed prospects in draft history.

In two seasons as the Aggies’ starter, Manziel went 20-6, won the Heisman Trophy, threw for 7,820 yards with 63 touchdowns and became the face of college football. He did it all while listed at just 6'1/200. His size and improvisational style will turn off some teams that are looking for a traditional pocket passer, but we’re fully confident he’ll be a first-round pick come May. Our Josh Norris has Manziel as his No. 2 quarterback, behind Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater but ahead of Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and Fresno State’s Derek Carr.

Brandt is the former VP of player personnel for the Cowboys and known as the Godfather of the draft. His take on Johnny Football: “You are going to get 110 percent out of this guy every day of his life, every play of his life. If you don’t have a quarterback, and you want one, I believe this guy has a great chance to be good for a long time. This guy had an inferior team. And he beat Alabama, he beat Oklahoma. He’s down 29 to Duke in the last game of his college career, and he’s on the sidelines saying, ‘There is no way we are going to lose.’ This guy’s a better version of Fran Tarkenton.” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Manziel going No. 1 overall to the Texans in his first mock draft.