The Oakland Raiders would reportedly choose Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr over Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in the upcoming 2014 NFL draft. Carr made a better impression at the combine, Sam Farmer of the L.A. Times reports.
The hype around Manziel may be subsiding. Oakland reportedly joins the Cleveland Browns as the second NFL team that would now prefer drafting Carr ahead of Manziel.
"The Raiders are known for their unconventional picks, so Manziel might seem like a natural fit for them. Word is, though, that they liked Carr more coming out of the combine," Farmer wrote on Sunday.
Oakland, owners of the No. 5 overall pick, is one of four quarterback-needy teams with a top-five selection. The Houston Texans (1), Jacksonville Jaguars (3) and Cleveland (4) choose ahead of Oakland and can pick from talents such as Manziel, Carr, UCF's Blake Bortles and Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater.
Carr finished the 2013 season with 5,082 passing yards, 50 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound signal caller leaves behind Fresno State with career numbers of 12,842 yards, 113 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner, has been maligned for his height - officially listed at 5-foot-11 3/4 - and his off-the-field behavior, which has raised questions about his maturity.
His potential in the NFL has polarized analysts and scouts. The first mock draft from ESPN's Mel Kiper projected Manziel to be the first pick, while ESPN's Ron Jaworski said he wouldn't pick Manziel until after the first three rounds.
It's worth noting teams, especially this early in the draft process, are notorious for disseminating misinformation to create smokescreens about who they truly intend to draft.
The 2014 draft begins on Thursday, May 8.
