NFL NEWS

Manziel, Bridgewater to visit Patriots

The Sports Xchange

April 02, 2014 at 12:41 pm.

The New England Patriots, who have the 29th overall draft selection, are scheduled to host quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater on pre-draft visits at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday, according to reports.

NFL teams are allowed to invite 30 prospects to their facility each year before the draft, so the visits are nothing out of the ordinary, even though Manziel and Bridgewater are projected to be selected well before New England’s scheduled first pick.

Tom Brady, who is under contract through 2017, does turn 37 before the season and backup Ryan Mallett has only a handful of snaps in the NFL. Coach Bill Belichick may just be looking to the future.

Bridgwater is competing against both Manziel and Central Florida’s Blake Bortles to be the first quarterback selected. NFL.com reported Bortles visited the Patriots last week.

Ball State quarterback Keith Wenning reportedly has a scheduled visit with the Patriots, along with eight other teams.