This year’s belated NFL Draft is such a toss-up that even the team picking No. 1 isn’t a certainty.
The Texans could avoid pressure to take local favorite Johnny Manziel over apparent sure thing Jadeveon Clowney with the first selection Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall after Houston general manager Rick Smith expressed confidence he could trade down.
Speaking to the NFL Network on Wednesday night, Smith said the Texans have had “enough conversations [with other teams] to legitimately move” out of the No. 1 pick.
What Houston decides to do is vying with where Manziel ends up as the most intriguing storyline of the three-day draft, which was pushed back two agonizing weeks because of a scheduling conflict at Radio City.
Smith’s comments were a stunner because of both his openness about the talks and because league sources confirmed a FOX Sports report he is demanding a king’s ransom — three first-round picks and a second-round choice — for the No. 1 spot this year.
Speculation about Houston’s potential trading partner continues to center on the Falcons, who have been public about their interest in Clowney after traveling to see the South Carolina defensive end and putting him through extensive physical tests last week.
Atlanta did that knowing there was zero chance of getting the supremely talented Clowney in its current spot, No. 6 overall.
Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff also has a history of splashy first-round deals, having sent five picks — two first-rounders, a second and two fourths — to the Browns in 2011 to move up to the No. 6 spot and draft wide receiver Julio Jones.
For his part, Clowney doubts the Texans will trade the pick or decide to take Manziel or Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack.
Asked at a predraft event Wednesday morning in Chelsea if Houston would regret passing on him with the No. 1 pick, Clowney said: “I don’t think they’re going to pass.”
League sources continue to insist the Texans don’t plan to take a quarterback if they keep the No. 1 pick, and new Houston coach Bill O’Brien isn’t thought to be a fan of Manziel, who played at nearby Texas A&M.
Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday afternoon that the feelings toward the Texans on the part of Manziel’s family are mutual, with the magazine saying his relatives are afraid the temptation to party with so many college and boyhood friends nearby would be too tempting. Manziel received alcohol counseling during his time at A&M.
SI also reported Manziel doesn’t want to be drafted by the Jaguars with the No. 3 pick because Jacksonville is too small of a market, but Manziel’s agent went on Twitter and blasted the story Wednesday night.
“Absolutely ridiculous story,” agent Erik Burkhardt wrote. “100% NOT true.”
The conflicting reports merely added to the uncertainty surrounding Manziel, a former Heisman Trophy winner and the most polarizing quarterback prospect in the draft since Tim Tebow in 2010.
If Houston decides to trade the No. 1 pick, it might be just the start of an avalanche of deals in the first round. That’s because there are so many teams in need of wide receivers, and — led by Clemson’s Sammy Watkins — this year’s draft is considered the deepest in years at that spot.
Some observers think this year could challenge the 19 trades from 2012 for the most first-round deals since 2000.
“It sounds like it’s going to be crazy,” Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said. “Nobody knows what’s going to happen.”