If Jon Gruden had his way, Johnny Manziel would be suiting up this season in silver and black.
The former NFL head coach and current “Monday Night Football” commentator apparently spent draft night “imploring” the Oakland Raiders to draft Manziel, sources told NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Sunday.
The Raiders instead opted to take Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr with their first pick in the second round (36th overall). The Cleveland Browns snatched up Manziel 15 picks earlier.
Gruden’s friendship with Raider owner Mark Davis is well known, but it’s still a bit weird for a media member — until he inevitably returns to the coaching ranks, that’s what Gruden is — to be actively advising a team.
Neither rookie signal-caller has lit the world on fire this season, but Carr has been the beneficiary of far more playing time. The Fresno product has started all six of the Raiders’ games, completing 60.5 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Manziel, meanwhile, has attempted just two passes as Brian Hoyer holds down the starting spot in Cleveland.
Photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
