The Cleveland Browns spent $100,000 studying what type of quarterback would best fit in the NFL after years of comically failing to find a franchise quarterback, but a homeless man may have ultimately convinced the Browns to draft Johnny Manziel on Thursday in the First Round on the NFL Draft.
Manziel, the polarizing quarterback out of Texas A&M, dropped all the way to No. 22 before the Browns, who had already passed on him twice in the first round, traded up to grab the quarterback who plays a style of football that can be described as “basketball on grass.”
ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reported that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was out to dinner when a homeless person looked up to him and said, “draft Manziel.” That convinced Haslam that “Cleveland fans wanted Manziel.”
The $100,000 study concluded that in this year’s class, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had the best chance of succeeding.