E.J. Manuel could go within the top 20 picks of the 2013 NFL Draft, according to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly. The former Florida State quarterback has been receiving a significant amount of hype over the last few weeks before the start of the draft on Thursday, with some suggesting that he could be the second quarterback taken.
2013 NFL Draft rumors: E.J. Manuel could leap into top 20
E.J. Manuel could be vying for a top-20 selection in the NFL Draft Is he worth it?
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More: Mocking the Draft
Of course, the phrase “a lot of buzz” is hardly scientific. Even more problematic for Manuel, there isn’t a team outside of the top 10 that is clearly in desperate need of a new quarterback. If a team selects Manuel in the first round, it may be because they traded up to get him. It would take a lot for a team to move from the second round into the top 20, however.
There is a lot to like about Manuel’s game. From a physical standpoint, he is arguably the best quarterback in his class. Manuel has prototypical size at 6’5, 238 pounds, but he also has 4.65 speed in the 40-yard dash, not to mention a strong arm. He may have a long way to go in terms of his accuracy, but the upside is enormous.
The Cleveland Browns went as far as to compare Manuel to former No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton. Manuel has also worked out privately with the Philadelphia Eagles in April. Both teams could look to solidify their future at quarterback in this year's draft, and are in good position to potentially trade up from early second-round picks.
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