Five potential landing spots for Johnny Manziel ahead of next season

Jay Asser 00:30 09/04/2018
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  • Johnny Manziel could draw interest from NFL and CFL teams.

    Johnny Manziel is likely to draw some level of interest from NFL and CFL teams after his stint in The Spring League, where he made his debut on Saturday with 83 passing yards and a touchdown throw.

    Here are five teams that could target Manziel ahead of next season:

    New England Patriots

    If Manziel does return to the NFL, it would make sense for it to happen with a franchise that has an established culture that can help him assimilate.

    Getting Bill Belichick’s approval would go a long way in restoring Manziel’s reputation and boosting his value around the league. And New England could use a back-up quarterback with a higher ceiling than Brian Hoyer’s. There is some history here as well with the Patriots having brought him in for his first pre-draft visit and then meeting with him before and after Texas A&M’s recent pro day.

    Dallas Cowboys

    Jerry Jones has been a longtime admirer of Manziel and there is definitely some overlap between Cowboys and Texas A&M fans.

    Playing in his home state would be a draw for Manziel, who himself grew up a Dallas fan and has previously said that ending up with the Cowboys would be a “folktale”.

    With their back-up quarterback situation currently headlined by Cooper Rush, Dallas could use Manziel, who shares some of the dual-threat abilities that starter Dak Prescott does. There are enough reasons to at least give him a look.

    Cincinnati Bengals

    Like the Patriots, the Bengals aren’t opposed to giving players second chances, having rostered Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones, Vontaze Burfict and Terrell Owens over the years.

    Cincinnati also happened to lose their back-up quarterback, AJ McCarron, to Buffalo, leaving them with uninspiring options in Matt Barkley and Jeff Driskel behind starter Andy Dalton.

    Manziel would be an upgrade over those two and someone who can bring some excitement to an offence that sometimes need a jolt of originality.

    Seattle Seahawks

    Manziel isn’t Russell Wilson, but there are similarities between the two quarterbacks. For one, they’re both around six feet tall, which is relatively short for the position.

    Yet despite being vertically challenged, both put tremendous pressure on opposing defences thanks to their strong arm and quick feet. If Wilson was to suffer an injury, Manziel would be able to slide into the offensive scheme and do some of the same things.

    Plus, it would be a stable situation for Manziel thanks to the culture Pete Carroll has cultivated.

    Hamilton Tiger-Cats

    It won’t be Manziel’s first option, but there’s a decent chance the CFL may be the only league that offers him a contract. And with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats currently holding his rights, Manziel may end up taking his talents to Ontario.

    While it wouldn’t be ideal for Manziel, playing in the CFL would at least allow him to get reps as a starter and show NFL teams from afar that he can be a professional for a full season.

    Doug Flutie and Jeff Garcia are two quarterbacks who famously jumped from the CFL to the NFL. A brief stay north of the border could help build up Manziel’s value and benefit him in the long run.

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