Johnny Manziel was selected 14 picks ahead of Derek Carr in the 2014 NFL Draft.
However, Manziel hasn’t been with an NFL team since the Cleveland Browns released him in March, while Carr currently is in his third season as the Oakland Raiders’ starting quarterback.
Not only has Manziel been a free agent for nearly a year, he served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and is under review for potentially violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
Still, Carr is fond of Manziel, as he expressed in an interview with NBC Sports, and is sympathetic of his situation.
“You know, I spent a lot of time around him,” Carr said in the NBC interview. “He’s such a good dude. I obviously wish him the best, you know … I hope that … hopefully one day he’ll reach out, (I’d) be able to talk to him and be a friend to him.”
The Oakland quarterback believes Manziel still has the skill set that could be of use for an NFL team, and that all he needs is a chance.
“He’s so talented, so I understand why he was drafted where he was,” Carr said. “He could throw, could run, a dynamic athlete, dynamic player. Obviously he just had a little trouble. He’s still young, though, so hopefully he’ll get another chance someday and he’ll be all right.”
Carr could be a good role model for Manziel. In his first three seasons in the league, he already has made the Pro Bowl and has led the Raiders to a 10-3 record so far this season.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
