After being drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Johnny Manziel is already recording his first pro victory.
The former Texas A&M quarterback leads all NFL players in jersey sales after being selected twenty-second overall by the Cleveland Browns. While he has yet to take a snap in the NFL, Manziel’s No. 2 jersey sales has already surpassed those of established stars like Peyton Manning and Colin Kaepernick. Additionally, Manziel leads all rookies in jersey sales, equaling his four closest competitors combined sales and surpassing record totals set by past top picks Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, and Tim Tebow.
Other notable news in rookie jersey sales was the success of the St Louis Rams’ Michael Sam. Sam made headlines by becoming the first openly gay player to be selected in the NFL Draft, and despite being a seventh round pick, trails only Manziel in jerseys sold. Sam beat out higher drafted and more hyped players such as Jadeveon Clowney of the Houston Texans, and Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were selected first and third overall respectively.
