With quarterback Johnny Manziel and wide receiver Mike Evans opting to work out for scouts on March 27 rather than at Texas A&M’s pro day yesterday, it still didn’t lack for star quality.
Because there’s a chance the highest-drafted Aggie was out there anyway.
Offensive tackle Jake Matthews was the big draw with the highlight-reel players on the sideline, but that was enough for many personnel men.
“We’re all here today because of the way [Jake] played,” Rams General Manager Les Snead said, via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “But just in the workout today, you can tell that the guy probably was in the crib doing this stuff and did it at the dinner table, it comes so natural to him. He knows what to expect at the next level, because his dad’s played in it, coached in it, so he’ll be able to handle all the weather that comes with the high-pressure job on the offensive line.”
The son of Hall of Fame guard Bruce Matthews (and nephew of Clay Jr., who has kids you may have heard of also) could be a top-five pick in his own right, however.
He had private meetings with the Rams (picking second) and Browns (picking fourth) after the workout. While the Browns figure to go quarterback early, Matthews is the kind of talent that would require their attention, even without the family background.
