The Johnny Football Formula for Success: George H.W. Bush + Drake

There is no question that Johnny Manziel has been the most talked about player in the upcoming NFL draft, and even in all of college football over the past couple seasons. A love-him or hate-him type of player, Johnny Football is one who has walked the walk and talked the talk. However, Manziel’s skill set has been criticized in terms of its transferability to the NFL. More specifically, his size, arm strength, attitude, and ability to be an effective pocket passer have all been questioned by various analysts. Others claim he will follow the mold of Russell Wilson, a short quarterback by NFL standards who has been effective with both his arm and his legs. Manziel has been ranked as high the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, but also as low as a 2nd or 3rd-round selection. Simply put, there is really no way to know how Johnny will fare until he takes a snap in the NFL.

However, Manziel took a big step forward during his Pro Day last week.

Dressed in slick black camouflage, a full set of pads and a helmet, Manziel impressed nearly every coach, spectator, and evaluator in attendance, including former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. With the music of Drake playing through the loudspeakers, Manziel found his own rhythm, completing nearly every pass while showcasing solid arm strength and good leadership qualities. He ended the day with a resounding “Boom,” and was given a round of applause by those in attendance. 

Manziel’s successful Pro Day has resulted in his vaulting up many mock draft boards to the No. 1 overall selection, or at the very least, the No. 1 overall quarterback. Among those who have recently lauded Manziel: NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, NFL analyst Mike Mayock, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and former NFL and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner. Although critics remain, including former NFL running back Merril Hoge and new Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, who called Manziel’s pro day a “sideshow,” there is no doubting the overall momentum swing in favor of Johnny Football. He will continue to be, as he has been for some time now, one of the hottest topics in football.

…Meanwhile, the water under Teddy Bridgewater’s draft stock bridge has cooled some 

At the conclusion of the college football season, many people considered Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater to be the No. 1 overall quarterback. In fact, he was considered to be the No. 1 overall selection in the entire draft by multiple analysts. However, Bridgewater's draft stock cooled off considerably following what was described as an “average at best” pro day by NFL media analyst Mike Mayock. Bridgewater underwhelmed during what was supposed to be a relaxed, controlled workout, leaving analysts and NFL brass alike with a feeling of caution. Many of his throws were reportedly wobbly and lacking in strength. While one off day doesn’t dictate the success a player will have going forward, the level of uncertainty that now accompanies Bridgewater may be enough to scare away some of the teams selecting at the top of the first round. There are plenty of players at other positions who are considered to be elite in this draft, so it will be interesting to see what teams elect to do come draft night. 

Another quarterback considered as a potential top pick in the draft is Blake Bortles. Bortles, out of the University of Central Florida, stands tall at 6-foot-5 and 232 lbs, and has experience running an NFL-style offense. He has been praised for having the size, arm strength, and athleticism to succeed at the pro level. However, he also has some noted mechanical flaws that need to be addressed. According to sources, his mechanics did look improved during his pro day workout as compared to his game film from the past few seasons, but work is still left to be done. In the eyes of most analysts, these issues are very correctable, and all signs point to Bortles as someone with the drive and work ethic to work through his flaws. Following his pro day, he now seems to be competing with Manziel as the top overall quarterback in this draft class. A lot will depend on whether a team is looking for a more conventional quarterback, in which case Bortles would likely be number one, or if they are looking for a hybrid and dynamic playmaker who may make as many plays with his feet as he does with his arm (Manziel). Of course, things can (and probably will) change in the next weeks leading up to the May 8 draft, so be sure to check back in on the situation.

Are the Texans Open to Trading Down?

The Houston Texans currently own the No. 1 overall selection in the upcoming draft. However, this may not still be the case come draft time. According to a report, the Texans may be looking to gain extra selections in a deep draft by trading the pick for a lower first round selection and either additional picks or players. While there are many teams who will probably be unwilling to give up so much to move a few spots higher, one potential trading partner could be the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills are currently slotted to pick ninth, but reports suggest that they could be targeting LB Khalil Mack, who almost all but certainly will be gone by the 9th pick. A move down for Houston may help relieve pressure off of whichever quarterback the Texans do end up selecting. Without a consensus top quarterback in the draft, there would be huge expectations placed upon that number one selection to not only outperform his fellow draftees, but also to revive the entire franchise. The “franchise-changing ability” of the quarterbacks in this draft has been widely debated, so perhaps the Texans would be wise to stock up on solid position players and select a signal-caller with a later pick. Of course, with arguably sevent of the top eight teams in the draft order lacking at the QB position, this might be a huge gamble for the Texans. However, coming off a two-win season, one player is unlikely to turn this franchise around, and stockpiling picks may be a wise choice.

Smokescreens: Is This Pokémon or the NFL?

This draft has been especially difficult to make predictions for, largely because of the “smokescreen” game that NFL brass has been playing with one another and the media. Teams are taking definitive measures to ensure that their draft day hands aren’t tipped. For instance, in a bold (and in my opinion, unnecessarily bizarre) move, the Cleveland Browns elected not to attend any of the top quarterback propects’ pro days (Bortles, Manziel, Bridgewater and Derek Carr). The Browns also declined to interview any of the quarterbacks at the NFL combine. While these two moves certainly cast a shadow of doubt and speculation upon whom they are targeting, they also seem rather silly, as one would think that teams would want to take advantage of every opportunity available to evaluate a player. 

The Browns aren’t the only team engaging in apparent smokescreens, however. Mike Zimmer of the Vikings, as noted earlier, raised questions about Manziel’s past after downplaying his impressive pro day. While there’s a chance these could be legitimately deciding factors in the Vikings’ evaluation of Manziel, it is hard to truly believe that they aren’t at least slightly enamored with the possibility of pairing the dynamic Manziel with Adrian Peterson and Cordarrelle Patterson. If Manziel’s playmaking translates to the professional level, that would be quite a tough defensive matchup. 

The New England Patriots are also meeting with Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater in a somewhat surprising set of events. It’s hard to imagine an NFL without Tom Brady, but he will be turning 37 before next season, and it’s conceivable that the Patriots may select a QB at pick 29 if someone truly catches their eye. However, with backup Ryan Mallett already in place, I believe that this is more of a procedural move. Nonetheless, it is intriguing to think of the possibilities. Belichick also may be looking to pick Manziel’s brain about fellow Texas A&M Aggie Mike Evans, a wide receiver expected to be a Top 10 selection. While the Patriots would have to trade up to select Evans, it’s no secret that they are looking to upgrade at the wide receiver position, and Evans coupled with Brady could be scary.

Other “developments” thus far include the Jacksonville Jaguars supposedly not planning to select a quarterback with the third overall pick after resigning Chad Henne to a two-year deal, and the St. Louis Rams attempting to trade the second overall pick in exchange for extra picks in the 2nd round, believing that it will be the key round in the draft. While there may be some truth to these, there is really no sure way of telling what is a bluff (although Chad Henne? Come on) and what is truth. It’s all part of the elaborate draft games.

3 Emerging Players You Shouldn't Sleep On

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois 

Despite coming from the Ohio Valley Conference, Garoppolo has impressed over the course of offseason evaluations, intriguing scouts and analysts alike. While some question his size at 6-foot-2 and his downfield accuracy, there is no question that Garoppolo has a lot of strengths as well. According to his NFL.com combine profile, Garoppolo “has a very quick trigger,” is an “urgent decision maker” and is “tough-minded and poised in the pocket.” While he may not be taken into the first round, it seems that Garoppolo is making a good case for himself as a solid 2nd through 4th-round QB choice with good upside potential.

Phillip Gaines, S, Rice 

For someone projected to be a mid-to-late round draft selection, Gaines sure has some impressive numbers. At 6-foot and 193 lbs, Gaines boasts a 4.38 40-yard dash time and 36 ½ inch vertical leap, comparable with Justin Gilbert, the projected top cornerback in this draft. However, Gaines is underdeveloped and would be considered a “project CB.” Regardless, he is considered to be a ball-hawk, defending 35 passes during his past two seasons, and his work ethic has been praised. He is a very effective zone-coverage corner, and for a mid-round pick, teams could do a lot worse than Phillip Gaines.

Marcus Smith, DE/OLB Louisville

At 6-foot-3 and 251 lbs, Smith is a potential mid-to-early round draft selection with a nice ceiling. He is quick, coordinated and offers versatility with the ability to play both DE and OLB. While his run defense and short arms have been questioned, his pass rushing skills are exceptional, as he led the nation with 1.12 sacks per game (14.5 total). He is also noted as being very coachable and willing to learn. He can definitely make an impact in the NFL with some improvement.

You can follow Ben Albert on Twitter at @hermthegerm13