SiriusXM host and former Cowboys personnel guru Gil Brandt talks Johnny Manziel and Jets and Giants draft needs with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: You have Johnny Manziel as No. 1 on your board. The reason?
A: He’s the best player at the most important position, and I don’t know what he’s done wrong to knock him out of that spot. He wins games. He’s an accurate passer, smart, athletic, he qualifies for everything. The only thing people question is his focus, and that’s because of all the side stuff he gets unfairly judged for.
Q: How has the world around the draft changed in your years doing it?
A: We have so many people that are mock drafters and they don’t know if A is better than B. You used to be able to look at a mock draft and feel pretty good, now they are all over the board. The people don’t have a methodology to evaluate players to know what’s important.
Q: Where do you think the Jets are headed in the first round?
A: The common answer is that the Jets will draft a wide receiver, but there’s a lot of receivers in this draft. The receiver you could get in the second or third round is going to be a lot better than the cornerback you are going to get in the second or third round. So, if it’s equal I would take the cornerback. I’ve seen (Jets general manager ) John Idzik everywhere getting ready, pro days and the sort. I think that they will have a good draft.
Q: And the Giants?
A: The Giants as a scouting group do as well as anyone in the league. Their scouts are trained well. They know what they are doing. The question will be do you take a guy like (Eric) Ebron at 12 or do you pass it up and go for a tackle like Pittsburgh’s (Aaron Donald). Historically, the Giants have gone for best player available. Also, they draft good character guys.
Q: Do you have confidence Geno Smith is the Jets’ quarterback of the future?
A: Geno Smith is going to be a lot better than we give him credit for. He’s probably been babied a little bit, but I think he is a guy that works hard. The greatest endorsement of him is that they won three of their final four games last season. You have to put some people around him, give him some backs and they may have gotten it in (Chris) Johnson — guys that could make plays around him.