Manziel object of a lot of attention from Rams/NFL.com-PFT

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Report: Johnny Manziel object of a lot of attention from Rams

By Mike Huguenin
College Football 24/7 writer
Published: May 5, 2014 at 08:57 a.m.
Updated: May 5, 2014 at 09:06 a.m.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap20...anziel-object-of-a-lot-of-attention-from-rams

Houston owns the No. 1 pick and obviously will set the tone for the draft. Thing is, St. Louis -- which owns two first-round picks, at Nos. 2 and 13 -- has a chance to shape the first round, as well.

What the Rams do with the No. 2 pick -- Keep it? Trade it? -- will have a big impact on a lot of teams, and Sports Illustrated Peter King reported Monday morning that "Rams GM Les Snead recently went to Texas Tech and met at length with coach Kliff Kingsbury -- (Johnny) Manziel s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at A&M in 2012 - - and came away thinking Manziel could adjust to life well as an NFL passer."

A Rams contingent was in College Station, Texas, on Friday to work out a trio of A&M players (Manziel, wide receiver Mike Evans and offensive tackle Jake Matthews). All three should appeal to the Rams, especially Matthews and Evans. King reported that Manziel was "impressive" in both the workout and a post-workout meeting-room session with coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

"Does that mean the Rams will take Manziel if he’s there at 13? I am still dubious," King wrote. "But I can tell you the Rams like him a lot."

What about at No. 2: Would the Rams be thinking of taking Manziel there? At first blush -- and maybe second and third -- that seems a little out there, considering Sam Bradford is under contract. But if the Rams' decision-makers aren't sold on Bradford anymore -- and those same decision-makers aren't sure how long Manziel will be on the board -- maybe they go ahead and take Manziel at No. 2 and, in the process, shake up the first round.

If the Rams don't take Manziel, offensive tackle would seem to be the highest priority for St. Louis. King also reports that the Rams worked out Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson on Thursday. Do they have him higher on their board than Matthews, who has a family connection with Fisher? "I sense the Rams like Greg Robinson at two -- over (Clemson wide receiver) Sammy Watkins and Jake Matthews," King wrote.

NFL Media draft analysts Bucky Brooks, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah all have the Rams taking Robinson at No. 2 in their most recent mock drafts.

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Rams doing plenty of homework on Johnny Manziel

Posted by Darin Gantt on May 5, 2014, 8:32 AM EDT

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/05/rams-doing-plenty-of-homework-on-johnny-manziel/

The Rams might hold the keys to the draft, and their own futures, this week.

With the second and 13th picks, they have the ability to take nearly anyone they want, or make a deal with you for someone you want.

But beyond the usual speculation, Peter King of The MMQB said the Rams were doing plenty of work on Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Head coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer put Manziel through a private workout and then an 80-minute session in the meeting room. Meanwhile, General Manager Les Snead went to Texas Tech to talk to Kliff Kingsbury, Manziel’s former coordinator in 2012.

While the Rams have seemed genuine about their intention to do business with quarterback Sam Bradford down the road, there’s a reasonable question as to whether they should. As the last of the pre-CBA golden goose rookie contracts, the floor for Bradford’s next deal will be inflated by the ludicrous ceiling of his first one.

With first-round quarterbacks so cheap now, and one available to them, the Rams would be doing themselves a disservice by not checking them out.