Baker Mayfield Needs to Start Now

Don’t get me wrong, Tyrod Taylor is a starting caliber NFL QB. I mean — during his tenure in Buffalo the man posted a 62.67 completion percentage, 3.19 touchdown to interception ratio, and led the BILLS to the playoffs in 2017. Yes, the Bills. The same team that’s going to claim the first overall draft pick this season. Tyrod is capable of success in Cleveland, but the optimal choice for the Browns would be to insert Baker Mayfield into the starting role as quickly as possible. Each game that passes by with Tyrod on the field is a wasted opportunity for the franchise.
The Roster Blueprint
The only thing more valuable than a franchise QB is a franchise QB on a rookie contract. The ability to have a cost-controlled contract for the first four to five years of a QB’s career allows the team to use the extra salary cap space to surround that player with a strong supporting cast. The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are perfect examples of teams who have used this blueprint recently to turn around their respective franchises and experience high levels of success in just two years.
The Los Angeles Rams
In 2017, NFL franchises allocated $12.9 Million of salary cap space on average to QBs. The Rams spent just $7.2 Million on QBs last season.
The results? Well, after a 2016 campaign that ended with a 4–12 record, the Rams used its cap flexibility to acquire Free Agents Robert Woods (WR), Andrew Whitworth (LT) and John Sullivan (C); in addition, the team was able to trade for Sammy Watkins (WR). Jared Goff and his revamped supporting cast earned an 11–5 record and an NFC West Division title in 2017.
The Rams have continued to use its abundance of cap space to aggressively bolster its roster this season, adding Ndamukong Suh (DT), Aqib Talib (CB), Marcus Peters (CB), Sam Shields (CB), and Brandin Cooks (WR).
The Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles spent only $1.9 Million on QBs in 2017. After finishing 2016 with a 7–9 record, they too used the offseason to acquire more talent in free agency. The Eagles signed Alshon Jeffery (WR), Torrey Smith (WR), LeGarrette Blount (RB), and Chris Long (DE), in route to a 2017 season that concluded with a 13–3 regular season record and a Super Bowl trophy. They have used this offseason to supplement an already loaded squad by signing players like Mike Wallace (WR) and Haloti Ngata (DT).
Baker Mayfield is THE TRUTH
There are QBs drafted who are not ready to start right away, and playing a QB prematurely can ruin their development (i.g., DeShone Kizer). Baker Mayfield is not one of those QBs.
Mayfield checked every box as a college QB prospect; he was ready to dominate on the college level at just age 18. Starting as a true freshman walk-on at Texas Tech in 2013, Mayfield passed for 413 yards and four touchdowns the very first week of the season. He finished the season as Big 12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year.
Mayfield left Texas Tech after his freshman year due to rumored scholarship issues. Mayfield joined the Oklahoma Sooners in 2014 as a walk-on but was not eligible to play due to conference transfer rules.
In 2015, Mayfield claimed the starting QB role for the Sooners. His sophomore season resulted in a College Football Playoff birth, a Heisman Trophy nomination, and an exemplary stat line: 4,105 total yards, 43 total touchdowns, 68.1 completion percentage, and a 5.1 touchdown to interception ratio.
Mayfield would continue to improve his junior season — besting last year’s stat line, leading the nation in Total QBR, winning the Sugarbowl MVP, and once again finishing as a Heisman finalist.
By 2017, Mayfield was a senior and at the peak of his powers. He led the nation in Total QBR once again, posted the best statistical season of his career, earned his team a spot in the College Football Playoffs for the second time, and finally secured a Heisman trophy.
Mayfield is one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time, and if you think that’s hyperbole, check the record book:
- Career Passing Effeciency Rating: 2nd All-Time
- Career Passing Touchdowns: 4th All-Time
- Career Passing Yards: 7th All-Time
Why Starting Early Matters
In order for the Browns’ player personnel department and coaching staff to surround Mayfield with the right pieces next offseason, they need to evaluate his play on the field and assess what additional help he needs to make the team successful. Intuitively — it makes sense that the earlier Mayfield plays, the larger the sample size the team will have, and the more informed the Browns will be with making decisions for next season.
Why Mayfield Isn’t Starting
Mayfield isn’t sitting the bench right now because it’s in the Browns’ best interest. He’s on the bench because it’s in the best interest of Hue Jackson. Coaches are ultimately evaluated on their Win-Loss record, and there’s no bigger incentive to try and win now than going 1–31 the previous two seasons.
If the team doesn’t show signs of progress early on, Jackson could be unemployed before the end of the season. Tyrod Taylor’s experience may increase the Browns’ win probability short-term, and that’s probably all Jackson is concerned with.
Sitting Mayfield also gives Jackson one last card to play should the Browns continue to lose games. The week Hue Jackson lands on the chopping block, he can declare that Mayfield is finally ready to start and plead with ownership for more time to show what he can do with his franchise QB. If Mayfield plays well and the Browns string together a few wins, it could give Jackson just enough credit to save his job for another season. If things still don’t improve, well — Jackson can give himself credit for lasting longer in Cleveland than he should have.
The length of Mayfield’s contract is only getting shorter, and the Browns need to act now before fumbling away the opportunity to build a super team.
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