Seattle Seahawks Draft Target Profile: QB EJ Manuel
By Keith Myers
I started off the my player profiles yesterday with a look at Matt Scott, whom I believe is the most likely QB the Seahawks select in this upcoming draft. One thing I probably didn’t make clear enough, was that he’s not the best fit for the Seahawks nor the best player they’ll look at, not by any means.
Jan.1, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel (3) scrambles in the first quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies during the 2013 Orange Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
That honor belongs to Florida State’s EJ Manuel. He’s Scott’s superior in every way (except his release). But that’s also the problem in terms of his fit with the Seahawks. I doubt they draft a QB high enough to acquire Manuel’s services.
I’ll be surprised if he makes it past the Eagles in round 2, and I don’t think the Seahawks draft a QB above round 4, they simply have bigger needs. So, why include him in my profiles? Because he is what the Seahawks will be looking for, and if he drops they’ll gladly take him.
Manuel is athletic in a way that is rare among pro QBs. He’s not polished, and certainly wont be a starter in 2013, but if he’s willing to put in the work he could be by early 2014.
He has a strong enough arm to make throws that Matt Scott can’t, but it only matters on the days when his mechanics are working. On the days where he’s dropping his elbow and opening up his shoulder, he’s completely erratic.
Manuel’s draft stock will mostly be determined by his interviews at the combine, his pro days and any individual workouts. If he sells a coach on his coachability, he’ll go earlier than most draft pundits are predicting.
If not, he could drop a long way; possible all way down to Seattle in the late-middle parts of the draft.
Pros
- Reasonably strong arm
- Very athletic with good speed
- Throws well on the run
- Potential Starter in 1-2 years with good coaching
Cons
- Poor mechanics that lead to intermittent accuracy problems
- Seems to only read half the field
- Semi-slow release
- Ball “wobbles” out of his hand a lot.
Draft Projection: Rounds 2-4
Here’s game film from FSU – Clemson:
Video courtesy of