5 NFL teams that could be willing to give Manziel a chance
The rumor mill continues to swirl around Johnny Manziel's "last of the last chances" to show people he's changed amid his attempt at an NFL comeback.
Reports surfaced Friday afternoon that multiple teams were "intrigued" by the former first-round pick after watching him perform at San Diego's and Texas A&M's respective pro days.
Here's a look at five teams that seemingly have a need for Manziel and are potentially willing to give him the chance he's seeking to resurrect his career.
Houston Texans
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Starter: Deshaun Watson
Backup(s): Brandon Weeden, Taylor Heinicke
The Texans saw any hope for 2017 fly out the window when Watson tore his ACL on a non-contact running play in practice prior to Week 9.
The tandem of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates fuddled about for the remainder of the season, with Heinicke attempting just one pass as a sophomore, leaving the Texans with a 4-12 record ahead of a draft in which they don't have a first- or second-round pick.
In the event of another serious injury to Watson, a reformed Manziel, 25, would represent a substantial athletic upgrade over a 34-year-old Weeden, back after spending last campaign with the Tennessee Titans. Manziel possesses similar mobility to Watson and an ability to scramble for positive yards outside the pocket, having rushed for 30 touchdowns in his two seasons at Texas A&M. He averaged 6.2 yards per attempt on 37 carries in his second NFL season.
Neither of the two former Cleveland Browns first-round picks has attempted a pass since 2015, helping to level the playing field in a potential competition.
Seattle Seahawks
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Starter: Russell Wilson
Backup(s): N/A
The Seahawks were left without a backup quarterback after releasing Trevone Boykin from the practice squad amid legal issues, an insecure situation with Wilson taking the fourth-most sacks and ranking second to Cam Newton in quarterback rushing attempts in 2017.
General manager John Schneider could address the gaping roster hole with a project quarterback in the draft, but still, someone with experience should be added.
The backup free-agent market is rather vacant with the Seahawks having held off thus far, making Manziel a suit for their needs. At 6-foot-0, he is an inch taller than the diminutive Wilson and represents a poor man's prototype under center.
San Francisco 49ers
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Starter: Jimmy Garoppolo
Backup(s): C.J. Beathard, Nick Mullens
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Manziel spent just one season together with the Browns, with Manziel appearing in five games as a rookie and posting unimpressive stats across the board.
However, GM John Lynch could reunite the maligned quarterback with one of the best offensive minds in the game, having Manziel compete with sophomores Beathard and Mullens for a backup role to franchise linchpin Garoppolo.
Bringing Manziel into an open competition for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart could further motivate him, and with the 49ers having devoted so much to building up the rest of the roster around Garoppolo this offseason, they'll want to be sure to have a viable replacement in case of emergency.
Kansas City Chiefs
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Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Backup(s): Chad Henne
The Chiefs showed their commitment to the No. 10 pick from the 2017 draft in Mahomes by trading veteran Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, reportedly prior to Super Bowl LII.
Mahomes enters his sophomore season essentially as an uncontested starter, after appearing in just one game as a rookie, wherein he completed 22 of 35 passes for 284 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception in a Week 17 victory over the Denver Broncos. Chad Henne was signed this offseason to be his backup.
While Henne has 10 years of experience on his resume, he has never shown himself to be a viable, long-term replacement and hasn't appeared in more than three games in a season since 2013.
Mahomes and Manziel both hail from Tyler, Texas, with Mahomes having attended Texas Tech. A relatable mentor could help support Mahomes should he struggle to adapt to his new starting role.
New England Patriots
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Starter: Tom Brady
Backup(s): Brian Hoyer
Salvaging Manziel could be the coup de grâce for the career of five-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.
The Patriots have long been grooming a steady stream of backups behind the ageless Brady, trading them while their values were highest as unknown assets. Until Garoppolo, they had essentially gone undefeated in such deals.
The 2017 trades of Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett have left them with Hoyer as the lone backup on the current roster. While another is likely to be added at some point in the 2018 draft, Manziel could be brought into the fold.
A return to anything near his Heisman Trophy-winning form could allow the Patriots to once again obtain draft picks for an asset they're not using, or even set him up as the eventual replacement to Brady.