Texans Leaning Toward Manziel, Bortles?

After a disappointing 2013 campaign, the Texans will have the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, and the team currently appears to be eyeing a pair of top college quarterbacks, according to Russ Lande of SportsOnEarth.com. Citing “trusted sources,” Lande reports that the Texans are initially leaning toward selecting either Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles with the top pick.

We’re still more than three months away from draft night, so teams and players will complete plenty of evaluations and workouts before that point, which could affect players’ stocks significantly. As such, any present-day assessments should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle has repeatedly reported that the Texans will draft a quarterback with the No. 1 pick, and Manziel and Bortles represent two out of the consensus top three names at the position — Teddy Bridgewater is the third.

According to Lande, Texans owner Bob McNair prefers Manziel, but new head coach Bill O’Brien isn’t 100% sure that the former Texas A&M signal-caller possesses “the work ethic and intangibles necessary” to lead an NFL franchise.

Assuming the Texans become comfortable with the idea of selecting one of the top QBs in the 2014 draft, former starter Matt Schaub figures to be a cap casualty. Cutting Schaub would clear about $3.6MM in ’14 cap space for the Texans.

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