Johnny Manziel visiting Cleveland Browns
Johnny Manziel runs the 40 yard dash during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
There’s a solid chance that Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel tumbles out of the first round entirely, but the draft’s most polarizing prospect could just as easily be the first quarterback taken off of the board. It only takes one team, and the sheer amount of rumors swirling around over the past couple of months, specifically as they relate to the all-important quarterback position, make it clear that this draft will be as fun and unpredictable as ever. The Cleveland Browns are in play to draft Manziel, as they have the fourth overall pick, the 26th selection, and the 36th pick in the draft, where they could take a quarterback at any of those three slots. Overpaying for need is something teams like to avoid, but it’s clear that the Browns biggest need is easily quarterback, and they are a franchise quarterback away from being a playoff team.
Is Manziel the answer? I don’t think so, but the Browns are actively looking to find out. According to a tweet from the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, Manziel has arrived in Cleveland today to start his visit with the Browns, and Cabot adds that the majority of the visit will take place tomorrow.
Most of the pre-draft smoke regarding the Browns likely pick at quarterback has circled around Fresno State’s Derek Carr, whom I like more than Manziel. Before the Browns fired Michael Lombardi and Joe Banner and promoted Ray Farmer, most of the smoke circled around Manziel, which just goes to show you how unpredictable the draft winds are.