Are the Chiefs really interested in Johnny Manziel?
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs were one of 13 teams to check out Johnny Manziel’s workout. Is it due diligence or is there some actual interest in the quarterback?
Let’s get this out of the way: don’t file this under clickbait.
It’s easy to think that questions that bring up a divisive topic (anthem protest) or player (Johnny Manziel) is a lame attempt to generate conversation, which equals traffic, which equals clicks, which equals (we presume) some sort of monetization down the road for the powers-that-be. Such things exist for sure. This is, however, not one of those things.
When we ask whether or not the Kansas City Chiefs are legitimately interested in Johnny Manziel, it’s because there was a representative on hand to watch him work out at San Diego State University’s pro day last Thursday. And the Chiefs were just one of 13 such teams to send someone, meaning nearly half the league showed some level of interest.
Side note: I will say that I’m hesitant to believe it was all to seen Manziel. Reports say 13 teams specifically watched him throw. I get that. But scouts or representatives were also on hand for San Diego State’s prospects to show off what they could do. Those teams certainly also spent time watching running back Rashaad Penny and tight end David Wells. Why not just look over for a few minutes to see Manziel throw while you’re there, right?
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There’s nothing wrong at all with a scout watching Manziel throw to update his file for the team. I can imagine a quick throwaway conversation between Veach and the representative:
“Hey, how was San Diego State?”
“Great, you should really check the tape on No. something something and you were spot-on about that cornerback.”
“Did you check out Manziel?”
“Yep. Kid threw well. Sounds and looks the part of turning it around.”
“Thanks.”
File updated. End of story.
Or is it? The reason to ask is because the Chiefs have been asked this question before. Four years ago, the Chiefs head coach and general manager were asked about whether or not they would have taken Manziel had he fallen to them (he went only a couple spots ahead of their first-round pick of Dee Ford). Even then, Andy Reid’s comments were coy and it’s easy to read at least some level of interest in his remarks.
Two years after the 2014 NFL draft where Manziel was taken, the quarterback mentioned the Chiefs among teams who expressed interest in him. Then came Ed Werder’s report that shot that down. Player vs. team source. He said, he said.
The bottom line is that since Manziel entered the NFL, the Chiefs have been one of the supposed teams with at least some level of interest in him. Now that he’s a free agent aiming to truly turn the corner and give the NFL one final try, the Chiefs were one of 13 teams to see him throw. They also happen to need a third quarterback.
You can choose to read the tea leaves any way that you want. It’s easy to connect some dots and think that anything is possible. It’s also just as likely that the Chiefs are looking everywhere simply because that’s what good teams do—leaving no stone, or those who are often stoned, unturned.