Name: Johnny Manziel

Position: Quarterback

College: Texas A&M

How Johnny Manziel Meets Team Needs

Before the 2013 season began there were questions marks surrounding the starting quarterback position in Houston.  Those questions became a sad reality for the Texans in Week 4 when,  against the San Francisco 49ers,  Matt Schaub threw a pick-six in the fourth straight game.  With a talented defense and a number of playmakers on offense,  it became evident that Schaub had not developed into the high-calibre quarterback they thought he would and a quarterback carousel continued for the remainder of the season.

After opening their 2013 campaign 2-0,  the Texans slumped to 14 straight defeats and subsequently hold the first-overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.  With Jadeveon Clowney being one of the best defensive prospects in a decade,  will the lure of pairing him with J.J. Watt be too much or will the Texans address their true number one need at quarterback?

Impact As A Rookie

Manziel has the tools to be a Week 1 starter in the NFL.  He is far from polished and will make mistakes but he is not a player who will happily sit behind another guy and hold a clipboard – he is a competitor who wants to be on the field playing football.

Of the top-tier quarterbacks in this draft,  Manziel is definitely the biggest boom-or-bust prospect,  but he is a leader and will inspire players around him.  The Texans have a very strong running game,  one veteran receiver in Andre Johnson and one up-and-coming receiver in DeAndre Hopkins which will bail Manziel out of trouble early and often if need be.

I cannot see a scenario were Manziel does not build a good professional foundation through his rookie season.

What Manziel Does Well:

Manziel is a born leader and football player which is evident through his poise,  leadership and playmaking ability.  He possesses solid arm strength which allows him to make all the throws whether it is outside the hashes or deep routes over the shoulder.  A quick release improved further in 2013 when he shored up some mechanical flaws.  Mentally,  Manziel appears very strong after playing through intense media scrutiny after winning the Heisman trophy as a redshirt freshman in 2012.

Athletically Manziel is superb and can make unlikely plays with his legs.  He is not a burner but his lateral movement and agility is outstanding,  while he won’t shy away from lowering his shoulder and playing tough.

What Manziel Struggles With:

Manziel played exclusively from the gun in college so the first thing coaches and scouts will want to see is if he can he take snaps from under centre while still processing the game.  His playmaking ability often gives him a false sense of confidence as he throws balls up for grabs when he simply should throw it away.  It is also noticeable that Manziel is impatient when reading the defense and does not appear to regularly go through his reads before he pulls the ball down and takes off like a running back. 

Finally,  Manziel’s off-the-field issues were well documented during the Summer of 2013 for which he was suspended by the Aggies for half a game.  Is he arrogant or is he just a kid enjoying life as an up and coming quarterback?

Follow Richard on Twitter @Richard_Gatenby