MOBILE, Ala. -- Browns coach Hue Jackson hasn't communicated with Johnny Manziel yet, but he's already met with North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, one of top prospects in the NFL draft.

Wentz, one of the two biggest standouts here at the Senior Bowl along with Ohio State receiver Braxton Miller, was one of several players that Jackson sat down and spoke with at the Senior Bowl this week.

"This just starts the process of getting to know these young players,'' Jackson told cleveland.com. "It's just phase one of the process. It's just good to be able to talk to as many guys as we could. It was good to talk to him and find out a little bit about him and I'm sure I'll get an opportunity to find out a little more as we go.''

Jackson, who has the second and 32nd picks in the draft, sat in the stands and watched Wentz (6-5, 233) practice with the North team -- coached by the Dallas Cowboys -- for all three practices leading up to Saturday's game.

"It's always hard when you're sitting in the stands watching these young guys, but he has a lot of the characteristics that you look for," he said. "Again, it's just so early in this process and until you can really study them and get to know them will you really be able to make a sound judgment.''

Wentz, who's in the conversation to be the No. 1 quarterback in the draft according to NFL Network's Mike Mayock and Daniel Jeremiah, told cleveland.com that he enjoyed his meeting with Jackson.

"I thought it went well,'' said Wentz. "Kind of like all of my meetings, it went well and he seemed like a really good guy and obviously I'm assuming he's going to be a really good coach up there in Cleveland, so it went well.''

Wentz also chatted on the field after practice Wednesday with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has the No. 4 pick. ESPN's Mel Kiper has speculated that the Cowboys might move up to No. 1 to draft Tony Romo's successor.

"It was cool,'' said Wentz. "Obviously a legend and icon like Jerry Jones, it's really cool to get to meet him. I didn't even recognize him right away because he had his hat on and sunglasses and he was trying to be discreet, but you all found him and everything. It was cool to meet him and just say hey real quick.''

Jackson, who's said he needs a "dominant, consistent quarterback,'' acknowledged that there are some quality candidates at the top of the draft. It seems the club has all but given up on Manziel, who's failing to demonstrate this off-season that he's dedicated to the game and to getting his act together off the field.

The Browns can waive Manziel beginning Feb. 8, the day after the Super Bowl, and can trade him beginning March 9th at 4 p.m.

Jackson told cleveland.com on Wednesday that he's reached out to number of players, but that Manziel wasn't "in the first batch.''

The other quarterbacks getting first-round consideration are Cal's Jared Goff, whom Jackson has heard a lot about, and Memphis' Paxton Lynch. Neither Goff, Lynch nor Michigan State's Connor Cook participated in the Senior Bowl.

"I'm excited about some of the potential of these young quarterbacks, but again until you can really spend the time, you don't know,'' said Jackson. "Whatever we decide to do as our draft unfolds, these are important decisions and this just the first part of it as we watch all of these guys and evaluate them as to what's best for us.''

Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown, who acknowledged that the Browns are "certainly looking at the quarterback," has been impressed with Wentz. Brown sat next to Jackson each day and watched practice.

The Browns had all of their scouts here, while the assistant coaches are busy back in Cleveland evaluating the current roster.

"Wentz has been impressive but again, we have a lot of needs and holes,'' said Brown. "He's a good guy, a good prospect. Obviously they've had a tremendous amount of success at North Dakota State. The coaching up there is top-notch and he's an impressive, physical guy.''

In 23 starts at North Dakota State, Wentz accounted for 54 touchdowns (42 passing and 12 rushing) against 14 interceptions. The only real knock is that he played in the small-school Football Championship Subdivision. The last FCS quarterback drafted in the first round was Joe Flacco, who had Jackson as his position coach in Baltimore his first two years -- both playoff seasons.

"There's obviously a lot of doubt coming from the FCS level and I just want to address that right away, prove that I can play at a high level, play at a fast level, compete with these guys and really excel," said Wentz. "I have the mental and physical abilities to play at this level and I'm really excited to prove it.''

Wentz played in a pro-style offense, and it showed in practices. His footwork was excellent, he was a natural under center and he's not a projection coming out of a spread like most.

"Physically I've got a lot to offer with being able to make all of the throws and then some athleticism that people probably wouldn't expect from a big 6-5 kid like me,'' he said. "Then obviously the system we ran at North Dakota State was very pro-style, multiple, so I'm looking forward to that transitioning and helping me going forward.''

Wentz earned rave reviews from the draft experts.

"Carson Wentz has been phenomenal down here,'' Jeremiah, a former Browns scout, said on NFL Network Thursday. "The first thing you notice is the size he has. He's 6-5, 230-plus, so he cuts the image of the quarterback you want to see at the next level. Footwork-wise, he's someone who's been under center at North Dakota State, so he's very clean and crisp getting away, and then you see the arm strength.

"You see the ball jump out of his hands. He can make every throw out here. And even more importantly than that, he shows that he belongs, carrying himself like a leader, kind of taking things over with the Cowboys' coaching staff.

"It couldn't go much better than it's gone for Carson Wentz thus far.''

Question is, how will it go on draft day?