By Cody Lachance
Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny Manziel has nearly achieved it all in college. From becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman award, breaking numerous offensive records and becoming a college partying icon, Manziel doesn’t have much else to achieve in school and has declared for the 2014 NFL Draft.
The 21-year-old has the potential to be a top five pick in this year’s draft, with teams like the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns all looking to add a potential franchise quarterback. Manziel is arguably the most dynamic quarterback of this class given his ability to be a playmaker both with his legs and with his arm.
The best fit for Manziel would be to be drafted with the number one overall pick by the Texans. Johnny Football would be staying at home in the state of Texas, while joining a team that is a quarterback away from being a dominant force in the AFC.
New head coach Bill O’Brien will bring his offensive mindset to a team that already sports one of the top defensive units in the league. With a strong defense behind him, the Texans could allow Manziel to mature on the field by being able to back him up defensively when he makes rookie mistakes.
The Texans also have the offensive pieces in place to give Manziel weapons to dominate in his rookie season. Wide receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins provide a solid one-two punch at the receiver position that can allow Manziel to spread the field to open up holes for dominant running back Arian Foster. The Texans could easily become a playoff team again in a relatively weak AFC South division.
Along with the on-field success he could have, the Texans could get a redo on a situation that they had back in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Texans had the first overall pick that year as well, and it was thought that they would draft University of Texas QB Vince Young, another fan favorite in the state. Instead, the Texans went with defensive end Mario Williams and watched as Young fell to the Tennessee Titans at No. 3. This time around, Houston can draft their stud in-state QB to help take the team to new heights in the NFL.
Johnny Manziel could be the most exciting player in this year’s draft. The Houston Texans need to add flair and skill at the QB position, and Manziel is just the player to do so. A fresh start is exactly what this team needs after a hugely underachieving output in 2013, and the O’Brien/Manziel combination might just be the place to start.