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Photo: Rick Scuteri / Associated Press Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Image 2 of 24 <center><strong>Tajh Boyd</strong> Clemson <center><strong>Tajh Boyd</strong> Clemson Photo: Michael Dwyer / Associated Press Image 3 of 24 <center><strong>Teddy Bridgewater</strong> Louisville <center><strong>Teddy Bridgewater</strong> Louisville Photo: John Raoux / Associated Press Image 4 of 24 <center><strong>Derek Carr</strong> Fresno State <center><strong>Derek Carr</strong> Fresno State Photo: Craig Kohlruss / MCT Image 5 of 24 Image 6 of 24 <center><strong>David Fales</strong> San Jose State <center><strong>David Fales</strong> San Jose State Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Image 7 of 24 <center><strong>Jimmy Garoppolo</strong> Eastern Illinois <center><strong>Jimmy Garoppolo</strong> Eastern Illinois Photo: G.M. Andrews / Associated Press Image 8 of 24 <center><strong>Jordan Lynch</strong> Northern Illinois <center><strong>Jordan Lynch</strong> Northern Illinois Photo: Jeff Haynes / Associated Press Image 9 of 24 <center><strong>Johnny Manziel</strong> Texas A&M <center><strong>Johnny Manziel</strong> Texas A&M Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle Image 10 of 24 Image 11 of 24 <center><strong>Jeff Mathews</strong> Cornell <center><strong>Jeff Mathews</strong> Cornell Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press Image 12 of 24 <center><strong>AJ McCarron</strong> Alabama <center><strong>AJ McCarron</strong> Alabama Photo: Butch Dill / Associated Press Image 13 of 24 <center><strong>Zach Mettenberger</strong> LSU <center><strong>Zach Mettenberger</strong> LSU Photo: Sean Gardner / Getty Images Image 14 of 24 <center><strong>Stephen Morris</strong> Miami <center><strong>Stephen Morris</strong> Miami Photo: Al Diaz / MCT Image 15 of 24 Image 16 of 24 <center><strong>Aaron Murray</strong> Georgia <center><strong>Aaron Murray</strong> Georgia Photo: Wade Payne / Associated Press Image 17 of 24 <center><strong>Bryn Renner</strong> North Carolina <center><strong>Bryn Renner</strong> North Carolina Photo: Gerry Broome / Associated Press Image 18 of 24 <center><strong>Tom Savage</strong> Pittsburgh <center><strong>Tom Savage</strong> Pittsburgh Photo: Keith Srakocic / Associated Press Image 19 of 24 <center><strong>Connor Shaw</strong> South Carolina <center><strong>Connor Shaw</strong> South Carolina Photo: John Raoux / Associated Press Image 20 of 24 Image 21 of 24 <center><strong>Logan Thomas</strong> Virginia Tech <center><strong>Logan Thomas</strong> Virginia Tech Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images Image 22 of 24 <center><strong>Dustin Vaughan</strong> West Texas A&M <center><strong>Dustin Vaughan</strong> West Texas A&M Photo: Jae C. Hong / Associated Press Image 23 of 24 <center><strong>Keith Wenning</strong> Ball State <center><strong>Keith Wenning</strong> Ball State Photo: Chris O\'Meara / Associated Press Image 24 of 24 Bridgewater NFL-ready, Manziel unsteady, Bortles undeveloped, Mayock says 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock could not deny Johnny Manziel’s “it” factor, saying Tuesday the former Texas A&M star quarterback at times plays like a combination of Fran Tarkenton and Doug Flutie.

But Manziel’s lack of stability and inefficiency in the pocket may be a problem for NFL teams, leaving ex-Louisville standout Teddy Bridgewater as currently the most viable prospect to stand behind center in Week 1 this season, Mayock said during a media conference call.

“Bridgewater is the most ready to play NFL-style quarterback in this draft,” said Mayock, who also serves as an announcer for the network.

Mayock said the 2014 draft is the deepest in a decade, with the No. 10 pick in 2013 being the equivalent of a No. 20 selection this year.

The Texans, who are in need of a starting QB, hold the No. 1 overall pick and will draft at the top of each round.

Like NFLDraftScout.com, Mayock rates Bridgewater as the best quarterback available.

Former Central Florida QB Blake Bortles could be a work in progress once he becomes a pro, Mayock said.

“People think (Bortles) has got the biggest arm. I’m not sure if he does or not. … But I also think he’s the least developed of the three,” Mayock said.

Repeated viewings of Manziel showed his NFL deficiencies, Mayock said, with late-season Southeastern Conference road losses displaying his weaknesses.

“The first tape I put in was (Sept. 14 against) Alabama and I put the tape down about two hours later and I said, ‘Wow. That was awesome.’ It was really fun to watch. The kid makes throws. He allows his other players to make plays,” said Mayock, who rates Manziel as top-10 quality with the potential of cracking the top five. ” … I eventually got to the LSU and Missouri tapes, neither of which were really good tapes. Both of which the common denominator for me was I felt like he got frustrated in the pocket. … The more he was in the pocket, the more frustrated he got. He started to lose his accuracy. He started trying to escape the pocket way before he needed to and I feel like he doesn’t like being confined. He likes those open spaces.”

Still, Manziel’s electricity on the field makes him stand out in a deep draft that has three QBs who’ll likely be selected before the No. 11 pick is made.

“Manziel’s got that ‘it’ factor, where I don’t think it matters if it’s Cleveland, Seattle, Dallas, warm weather, cold weather, whatever — he’s just going to be who he is,” Mayock said.

Twitter: ChronBrianSmith