If any teams pass on Johnny Manziel Thursday night, he wants to make them regret their decision, especially if one of those teams is in need of a quarterback.

Within the top five picks, the Houston Texans (first pick), Jacksonville Jaguars (third pick) and the Cleveland Browns (fourth pick) all appear to need a passer. According to ESPN, Manziel is a potential top-10 pick, but it is unclear which team, if any, is a lock to want him.

"I believe they will, personally," Manziel told reporters Wednesday at a pre-draft event in Manhattan. "I know in my heart how good I want to be and how committed I am to this game.

"I see there's room for me to improve, but to say I'm just a backyard-football quarterback, I don't think you do what I did in college and do some of those things [with that style]," he said. "I don't think that's extremely fair. I hear it, but for me, I know it's all about my work ethic and my will to get better. That's very alive and inside me."

For a brief moment, the Rams were reported to be dark horses thinking about taking Manziel. However, NBC Sports learned the Rams informed their current quarterback Sam Bradford it was a "smokescreen" before the rumors even began swirling. While unconfirmed, the Rams may be ready to pounce on Jadeveon Clowney in the event the Texans pass on him.

An NFL reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain reported this week the Jaguars are all but a lock to take Manziel if he is available third overall. Several draft experts believe Clowney will be the first pick and Greg Robinson, an offensive tackle from Auburn, will be the second pick.

Manziel wants to stay in Texas, the state in which he was born, played high school football and college football. The Dallas Cowboys, who pick 16th overall, could potentially also make that happen. While it is unlikely Manziel will fall that low, the Cowboys could trade up to take him as well.

Still, ESPN draft expert Todd McShay predicted Manziel falling to the 16th for Cowboys in his seventh and final mock draft.

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