EJ Manuel is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks selected in the NFL Draft, though there isn’t a strong feeling about where he will go. That has not stopped Manuel from mentioning three different teams as ones he likes and thinks would have interest in drafting him.
UPDATE: The Bills selected Manuel No. 16 overall.
“I’m hoping it’s the New York Jets, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Buffalo Bills,” Manuel told ESPN’s Trey Wingo on Tuesday. “I think [those] are three teams who may be looking to take a quarterback in the draft. We’ll see on draft day.”
The former Florida State quarterback mentioned the same three franchises during an interview with Dan Patrick last week. Wingo asked him what makes him think those teams would have interest in drafting him.
“Just the vibe that I got from those teams when I was meeting with them at their facilities. I was feeling really good about them. When I had the opportunity to go and meet with these teams and impress them, I thought that I did a good job of it,” Manuel told Wingo.
Manuel said he felt he had good conversations with the head coaches and GMs of those teams. He did well at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine, which has helped boost his draft stock. Manuel also scored a 28 on the Wonderlic test, which was high compared to the other top quarterbacks. He believes one of his strengths was being able to show coaches his football intellect when meeting with them to talk football.
Manuel explained hwy he compares himself to Ben Roethlisberger.
“I just think he’s a sturdy quarterback, he’s a winner, he’s hard for these defensive ends and defensive tackles to take down. I don’t think he necessarily runs to run; I think he runs to evade pressure and throw the ball down the field.”
Manuel says he hopes he’ll be drafted in the first round and thinks he’s likely to go in the first or second.
Though Manuel has come across well in interviews and at the combine, I wasn’t too impressed with him in college and would not be inclined to select him as my franchise quarterback.
