Cleveland Browns coach Rob Chudzinski compared EJ Manuel to his Carolina Panthers protegé Cam Newton, the Florida State quarterback said. Manuel worked out for the Browns on Saturday and told The Plain Dealer's Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the comparison on Sunday.
"He already brought up Cam when I was up in Cleveland on Monday," Manuel said. "I think coach Chudzinski sees a lot of Cam Newton in me, so that's kind of in my favor as far as being a guy that's very similar to Cam's playing style."
Many predictions have the Browns selecting Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner at No. 6, but Manuel believes he's in play. He used Newton as an example.
"They said Cam was a third-round pick, and he went first overall," Manuel said. "I'm sure a lot of people doubted him just like they're still doubting me. Coach Chudzinski did a great job with Cam, and you saw how well he transitioned to the pros. He was Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl (quarterback).
"If I get drafted by Cleveland, I know coach Chudzinski and (offensive coordinator) Norv Turner would do a great job of getting me ready to play."
Manuel is one of many wild cards in this draft. Most rank him somewhere behind West Virginia's Geno Smith and Southern California's Matt Barkley. He also might sneak into the first round. The 6-foot-5, 237-pounder threw for 3,397 yards, 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a senior and had a 41-to-18 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a two-year starter.
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Manuel also said he received good impressions from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.
"Those are most of the teams that have worked me out and brought their head coaches, GMs, quarterback coaches, the whole crew," Manuel said. "After the way some of these workouts have gone, I think I'll go fairly high. I don't know about the top 10, but I expect to go in the first round.
"Some of the teams might consider me (a top-five pick). We'll have to see how it all plays out."
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.
