If Steelers fans were happy to never hear about Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel again, their day may be a little less comfortable Thursday.
ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen suggested Monday the AFC North rival Cleveland will select Manziel if he's available when they're on the clock with the fourth pick in Thursday's first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Manziel has become one of the most polarizing figures in recent draft memory, with scouts and analysts projecting him to be taken anywhere from the top pick to the second round. His on-the-field exploits are matched only by allegations surrounding his behavior off the field, but the only one clear thing about him is everyone knows who he is and has an opinion.
If the Browns pull the trigger on Manziel at four, and Manziel earns the starting job, the AFC North would have perhaps the most diverse group of starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers is clearly the best of the four, with Joe Flacco having the second-best statistical and post-season achievements. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton could find himself in the hot seat this year after three consecutive post-season meltdowns, making him a rare example of a quarterback who's started all of his team's games but will play into the final year of his rookie deal. Flacco did it from 2008-12 before winning a Super Bowl and signing a contract that gave him everything short of team ownership.
Cincinnati may look at a quarterback in the first few rounds of this draft as well.