Johnny Manziel is thankful for Russell Wilson's success. (USATSI)
Russell Wilson would be a first-round pick if he was entering the draft this spring. But back in 2012, before we all knew just how good he would be, there were concerns that he might be limited by his height. Wilson is officially listed as 5-feet-11, but the more important numbers are these: a 28-9 career record as a starter and one Lombardi Trophy.
And that success in such a short period of time hasn't gone unnoticed. It's often said that the NFL is a copycat league, which is great news for Johnny Manziel, the 6-foot former Texas A&M quarterback who is thankful for Wilson's trailblazing success.
"I think he's kicked the door wide open," Manziel, who could be the first player drafted in May, told the Houston Chronicle about Wilson. "You're seeing more guys being successful avoiding that first wave of pressure -- get out and do things outside the pocket.
"Wilson does some things he's not asked to do, when things don't go exactly as scripted. He's able to extend the play. One reason [the Seahawks] were so successful early in the Super Bowl was that he was 4 of 5 on third down and was able to continue to push the ball down the field and get them where they needed to be."
To be fair, Wilson isn't the first undersized NFL quarterback to have success. Once Doug Flutie got an opportunity in the league, he played well. And then there's Super Bowl winner Drew Brees, who was the Chargers' second-round pick in 2001.
But Wilson and Manziel (and Flutie, back in the day) can run, both in the pocket and downfield, something Brees has never been known for.
"The game's evolving," Manziel said. "More and more [pass rushers] like [defensive end Jadeveon] Clowney are coming out of college, and they're big, and they can run. You have to be able to create plays.
"I want to be a pocket passer, too, and be able to pick apart defenses and beat teams with my arm. But when a play breaks down, the scrambling and running ability [take over], and we're back to doing what I've been doing the past six years playing football."
According to the most recent NFLDraftScout.com/CBSSports.com mock drafts, Manziel won't make it past the Browns with the No. 4 pick. Rob Rang and Pat Kirwan have the Jags taking Manziel third overall while Dane Brugler and Pete Prisco think Manziel will end up in Cleveland.
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Clemson WR Sammy Watkins gets compared to Julio Jones, A.J Green
Barring some sort of Darrius Heyward-Bey stunner, there is no doubt that Clemson's Sammy Watkins will be the first wide receiver selected in May's draft. But how good could he be? Well, pretty darn good if you appreciate the opinions of NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell.Cosell said during a Thursday radio interview that "there's no debate" about Watkins' standing as this year's best incoming wideout. But Cosell added that Watkins is the best WR prospect since A.J. Green and Julio Jones, both of whom were top-10 picks in the 2011 draft.
If you want to do some projecting, both players put up WR2 fantasy numbers as rookies.Green: 65 catches, 1,057 yards, seven touchdowns.Jones: 54 catches, 959 yards, eight touchdowns.And for those in dynasty leagues, both were considered top-five fantasy wideouts heading into their third season. Watkins isn't comparable to Jones or Green in terms of stature. He is a few inches shorter but possesses great acceleration and tremendous jumping ability. Percy Harvin, Torrey Smith, Pierre Garcon are a few other names that pop up in a quick search for NFL comparisons to Watkins -- sorry, I'm not really a draftnik. Obviously, an able QB and a bright offensive coordinator will go a long way to making Watkins an immediate, significant contributor. But if history is any guide, we shouldn't be surprised if Watkins finishes inside the top 20 at his position in 2014.
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