5. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots were one team confirmed to have met with Johnny Manziel both before and after his workout at Texas A&M this week, and, as the Boston Herald‘s Jeff Howe points out, this isn’t the first time the Patriots have expressed interest. They were also the first team to schedule a pre-draft visit with Manziel back in 2014.
Also remember, Manziel’s first pre-draft visit was with the Patriots. They’ve got a history with him. Watched him work out last week too.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 27, 2018
New England’s current depth chart is top heavy. Tom Brady remains, until he chooses otherwise, their No. 1 quarterback, but below him is just Brian Hoyer, a former Brady backup (and, like Manziel, Cleveland Brown), whom the Patriots added to the roster in November, on the heels of trading Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers.
That, itself, came nearly two months after sending another backup, Jacoby Brissett, to the Indianapolis Colts. It’s a threadbare cabinet when it comes to the Patriots’ quarterbacks room, and the team apparently knows it, which helps explain their at least burgeoning re-interest in Manziel.
The Patriots run a tight ship, which is why they would make no move to add Manziel to the team without doing extensive due-diligence. The meeting at A&M is but one part of that puzzle. However, that reported meeting combined with a prior interest and enough roster space to at least give him a chance to serve as No. 3 or even No. 2 quarterback through spring’s and summer’s practices could make New England a believable landing spot for Manziel.
Head coach Bill Belichick’s control over players’ behavior in front of the media could also help lessen the circus atmosphere should the Patriots sign Manziel, much as was the case during Tim Tebow’s three-month stint with the team in 2013.