NFL Draft rumors 2014: Everyone likes Johnny Manziel, no one likes QBs

The Texans may simply not think much of Derek Carr as a quarterback, as well -- at least, not at No. 33. If they had, they likely would have traded up into the first round to select him, as Battle Red Blog points out.

This most recent rumor jibes with earlier rumblings that the Texans are trying to trade out of the top pick of the second round. They may not like Carr, but they may be hoping someone else does, enough to trade up so that the Texans can secure picks to fortify themselves elsewhere.

But the rumor mill must turn. The latest from ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggests that the team is interested in dealing the top pick of the second round, No. 33 overall, to whoever may be interested. The Texans need help at several positions -- notably quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver and tight end -- and in a deep draft securing extra draft picks may be wise.

So, can they pull it off?

Houston has been tied to seemingly every member of a deep class of top-end quarterbacks in this year’s draft, but recent rumblings suggest that the team has settled on Jadeveon Clowney as its No. 1 pick, adding credence to the idea that the Texans have figured out other means of acquiring a franchise passer.

As for Mallett, he has thrown just four in-season passes for the Patriots since being selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has an exceptionally strong arm, however, and fits the mold of the bigger, prototypical passer that Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has preferred throughout his career. Case in point: O’Brien was the Pats’ offensive coordinator when the team drafted Mallett.

That’s good enough for us. Here’s a look at the teams reportedly looking to trade up, who they’re targeting and where they need to move to get them.

According to NJ.com Jordan Raanan, “a person with knowledge of the team’s draft philosophy” believes that the Giants would “seriously consider” taking Manziel if he fell to them at No. 12.

It doesn’t.

Photo credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona carries the 20th pick in the first round, and many have mocked Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr to the Cardinals. On SportsCenter Thursday, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said the talk of Carr to the Cardinals has been a “smoke screen.” Bortles is the player they covet and it’s not just McShay thinking it.

McShay’s draft cohort Mel Kiper also has the Cardinals getting Bortles in his final mock draft.

There has been rampant speculation that the selection will be used on either Buffalo’s Khalil Mack or South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney. However, general manager Rick Smith needs to be open to acquiring more picks for a team which finished 2-14 last season.

The Texans could use the other high selections to fill other positions of need such as safety or quarterback down the road. Anytime you can load up on ammunition in the draft, any draft, it is a solid strategy.

Holding a press conference before the draft, general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher sat before the gathered media and repeatedly expressed their confidence in current quarterback Sam Bradford. Then, at an annual event for season-ticket holders, the same process happened once again.

In the second of those instances, Bradford was in the room, actually standing next to Fisher during his proclamation that Bradford is his guy going forward. Per Thomas, Bradford smiled while the crowd gave a standing ovation.

Rumors from inside Manziel’s inner circle suggest his family would prefer he not end up with the Texans. They would reportedly rather have him go to a team outside of Texas, believing it would make it easier to leave his Johnny Football, party persona behind, in turn easing his transition to the NFL.

Despite what his family thinks, it’s not as if Manziel is going to turn down being the No. 1 pick. Houston has been diligent in its research on him and bringing in a homegrown talent would instantly rekindle interest in a franchise desperate to do so after last year’s debacle.

Also: why Aaron Murray might be this year’s Russell Wilson.

Manziel would also be able to theoretically create some offense on his own thanks to incredible athletic gifts. Considering the lack of talent around him on the offensive side of the ball in Jacksonville, that has to be considered a plus.

This is very possible, but ultimately it will be tough for a former defensive coordinator in Bradley to pass on a talent such as Mack or Clowney. If neither is available, the thought of bringing in Manziel becomes much more attractive. Tipping the third pick 30 hours before the big night smells a little fishy.

But could the teams’ owners be pressuring the front office to pull the trigger on specific quarterbacks, potentially in the first round? Raiders owner Mark Davis could be trying to push for Derek Carr, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. He also mentioned Shahid Khan of the Jaguars and Jimmy Haslam of the Browns could be heavily interested in Johnny Manziel.

All of these teams need a quarterback, and the Raiders specifically have a history of being guided by the owner. It’s a big unknown with Mark Davis at the helm, however.

Wilson writes that the Ravens will look to address more pressing needs early in the draft, which means selecting a quarterback might not become an option until at least Round 3. Given the depth of this year’s class, Baltimore could look to use a late-round pick on a second-tier prospect like Aaron Murray, Jeff Mathews or David Fales.

Prospects such as Alabama’s AJ McCarron, Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo, Wyoming’s Brett Smith or Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage could act as long-term projects. McCarron has consistently referenced his winning pedigree, while critics mention his low-development ceiling. Garoppolo boasts a quick release, but lacks the arm strength that is expected of an NFL-caliber passer. Smith has been called a bargain version of Johnny Manziel, with more glaring flaws. And Savage is the pre-draft media darling with size and strength, but heavy feet.

“I have [the] same dilemma,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted of King’s mock. “Can’t find a team that has [Bortles] in 1st.”

The Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills are in the market for a top receiver, but sitting at the bottom of the top 10 might not leave either team in a good spot to upgrade the position. With the two teams “sniffing around” prospects like Clemson’s Sammy Watkins and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, a top five pick might be necessary to secure a top wideout.

In his latest MMQB, Peter King of Sports Illustrated reports that Rams general manager Les Snead recently returned from a trip to Texas Tech to meet with Kliff Kingsbury, Manziel’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Texas A&M in 2012. King reports that Snead came away “thinking Manziel could adjust to life well as an NFL passer.”

St. Louis owns two of the top 13 picks. While King says it’s unlikely they would use the No. 2 overall selection on Manziel (he says they favor Greg Robinson there), they’re open to grabbing him at No. 13 if he’s still around.

King does not believe Manziel is an option with the Rams’ first selection, but could be should the Heisman Trophy winner last until the 13th spot.

Over at Turf Show Times, Ryan Van Bibber took a look at who St. Louis was visiting in the days leading up to show time. Van Bibber also wrote about NFL analyst Greg Cosell saying the Rams should pick Manziel, and what the pick would mean should it happen.

All of this information seems to be in sharp contrast to only a few days ago, when on May 4 an NFL.com article quoted Houston owner Bob McNair discussing Clowney.

As McNair points out in that same May 4 article, all of these signal-callers have issues.

Despite public insistence from head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead that the team is content with its receiving corps, it’s being reported that some in the organization would like to take Watkins, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

With Toby Gerhart off to Jacksonville, the Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a running back to back up Adrian Peterson. According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, they’ll likely be looking to pick one up in the draft.

Pettine said that in a perfect world, the Browns would be able to snag a player at another position of need before locking up a quarterback later on. It could be a great scheme, or all the top quarterbacks could be gone by Cleveland’s second pick, leaving fans devastated.

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron revealed last Tuesday that NFL teams have told him he could be a first-round pick. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen corroborated McCarron’s claim on SportsCenter on Thursday, saying, “I know one team that loves him as a possible late first-, early second-rounder.”

With the draft right around the corner, the rumor mill is heating up. Here are some other draft rumors from this past week:

In the past, head coach Lovie Smith had good things to say about the Texas A&M product, saying that it doesn’t really matter that Manziel isn’t “your prototypical quarterback.” He is one of the quarterbacks the Buccaneers have brought in for official visits. Of course, this could all be a smokescreen, as it’s plenty close enough to the actual draft for teams to kick that into high gear.