While some have penciled in the likes of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen to the Cleveland Browns at No.1 overall, don’t sleep on Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield, the fiery, flag-planting, crotch-grabbing 2017 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Oklahoma, led one of college football’s most explosive offenses to within a game of playing Alabama for the national title, is as polarizing–yet talented–as any potential first round pick since–you guessed it!–Johnny Manziel!
Like Manziel, Mayfield has some questionable off the field antics and issues that may scare away possible suitors. But also Iike him, he has enough on-the-field sizzle to make a team want to sample a piece of what he is cooking.
With the draft still roughly two and a half months away down in Arlington, Texas, rumors are beginning to fly that the former Sooner gunslinger may actually be in play to be selected number one overall by Cleveland.
With various media reports of Browns new general manager John Dorsey and former Washington Redskins general manager–and newly hired draft consultant, Scot McCloughan–in love with the Lake Travis, Texas native, could we Browns fans see Mayfield in the brown and orange?
In interviews, McCloughan compared Mayfield to a young Brett Favre and stated that free agent quarterback–another Browns possibility–in Kirk Cousins isn’t special.
Aside from the Manziel and Favre comparisons, there is also the height issue that Mayfield will also have to overcome, especially in the big boy AFC North division that has the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton and Joe Flacco.
Not to say that Mayfield will ever be as good as them, but it’s a division that plays some of the toughest most rugged football in the entire NFL in the harshest and most brutal conditions imaginable.
While Baltimore isn’t as frigid as the other three teams in late December, playing at Heinz Field, Paul Brown Stadium and First Energy Stadium amidst swirling winds and inclement weather may not be the best fit for Mayfield.
Also, you have to consider if Mayfield would be the right fit for newly-hired offensive coordinator, Todd Haley and his vertical passing offense.
Mayfield has the arm to make a lot of NFL throws and he mobility to extend plays, as well as that moxie you need for such a vanilla franchise such as the Browns, who need a little spice.
Perhaps it may be more than just a “thing” and pre-draft hyperbole and speculation during what is called the silly season, but if there is one thing we’ve all learned about the Browns, is that they like to be different.
Which in this case, may not be so bad.