Johnny Manziel, Quarterback, Texas A&M, First Round
Few prospects in recent memory are as polarizing as Manziel. Manziel's erratic play style caught the eye of college football enthusiasts everywhere and he skyrocketed to fame. He became the first freshman to ever win the prestigious Heisman award. Last year, he nearly repeated the feat as he was a finalist for the award. Had he returned to play next season, he very well may have been in the running for a third time.
Manziel is as entertaining as they come, but some question his sustainability in the NFL due to his size. He measures in just under 6'0" and weighs 207 pounds. If he continues to play as reckless as he does, he may get himself hurt, but it has yet to prove to be problematic. The bigger question is if he can be a top notch pocket passer if his running ability is tamed, but he certainly can. He has all the ability one would need and is smarter than given credit for.
How Manziel Fits In Cleveland
Whether it be with the 4th pick or the 26th, Manziel fits well in Cleveland. For those with the concern that he can not read a defense, Kyle Shanahan's system is rather simplistic and will allow him to progressive get more comfortable with the NFL setting. In Washington, Shanahan had success with Robert Griffin III during his rookie season. Manziel can have similar success especially with weapons like Josh Gordon, Jordan Cameron, and Andrew Hawkins around him. As if that padding were not enough, Cleveland's defense will support Manziel as they hold leads and keep teams to a minimal amount of points.
What He Does Well
In a straight line, Manziel does not possess blazing speed, but he is incredibly quick in small areas and it allows him to evade defenders with a few nimble steps, both in the pocket and down the field. When his footwork is set correctly, Manziel flashes wonderful accuracy. Even on the run, Manziel has the ability to hit his target. Although, while he is often perceived as a running quarterback, he is a much better pocket passer than given credit for. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the class in the area of going through multiple reads and looking off safeties. His arm is adequate and is good enough to make all the throws. If he can play less recklessly, he can be special.
Where He Struggles
As stated previously, Manziel plays too recklessly as of now. He showed strides from his freshman year to his sophomore year, but still plays too chaotic at times. Likewise, he took strides in improving his mechanics, but they are still quite sloppy. Seldom does he set his feet correctly when throwing and his drops seem too casual. As of now, he struggles reacting to pressure. While he senses it well and is not afraid of it, he too often tries to scramble and outrun defenders instead of stepping up or around the pocket.