Skip Bayless-Merril Hoge Debate Over Johnny Manziel’s Draft Stock Goes Viral

One pundit was spot-on with his prediction, while the other was way off.

With the NFL draft looming, old clips of draft takes that didn’t age well are making the rounds online. Among those to resurface is video of Skip Bayless debating Merril Hoge during an episode of ESPN’s First Take, during which Hoge correctly predicted Johnny Manziel would be a franchise-altering bust. 

Bayless, massively in Manziel’s corner back in 2014, was appalled by Hoge’s stance, clapping back at the fellow ESPN analyst. 

After Hoge labeled Manziel as a player with a “fifth- or sixth-round grade,” Bayless came to the former Texas A&M QB’s defense. 

“Merril Hoge, with all due respect, you have never ever been more wrong in your assessment of a football player than you just were about Johnny Manziel,” said Bayless. “He won’t be a bust. He’s going to be a franchise player. He’s going to be a star. He will make Pro Bowls.” 

In an age full of freezing cold NFL draft takes, Bayless’s relentless defense of Manziel remains one of the all-time greats. 

Not only did he criticize Hoge for even suggesting Manziel could be a bust, Bayless went on to a detail a full list of future accolades the Aggies quarterback would win in the NFL. Of course, Manziel won none of them.

Manziel eventually was drafted in the first round (No. 22 overall) by the Browns, with whom he spent two seasons. He last played in the NFL in 2015.