Image courtesy of Photo: David J. Phillip/AP
Oops. The Cleveland Browns did it again. They found a way to blow it again at the top of the NFL draft. Instead of taking a quarterback with more long term upside in Sam Darnold, they took an older quarterback who is four inches shorter and plays out of control in Baker Mayfield. I would say I am surprised that Cleveland passed on Darnold or any of the other quarterbacks in this draft but I am not. It’s the Browns.
Like others, I was foolishly led to believe that things would be different under new general manger John Dorsey. However like his predecessors, once you go to Cleveland, you are never the same. The stench of ineptitude clouds your judgement and you end up making a decision like the Browns did last night.
I like Baker Mayfield, I really do. I think he is a winner and I think he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL. It is obvious the Browns liked him too. Since they liked him so much, why not draft Saquon Barkley at one and take Mayfield at four? Or, if you felt the Jets might take him at three, trade into the second pick with the Giants and take him there. My point is, taking Mayfield first overall was a reach. The Browns didn’t need to reach there. They could have gotten him later.
The reaction in Cleveland has been mixed. Some fans are on board with the pick and think Mayfield will be the next Brett Favre (I see the comp but they are different physically) Other have had an adverse reaction and feels that the Browns blew it again. They did. Not only did John Dorsey blow it. He nuked it!
Could Baker Mayfield turn into the next Brett Favre or Russell Wilson (another ridiculous comp)? Sure. The chances of that happening are highly unlikely. Dorsey better hope that Hue Jackson and Todd Haley can develop Mayfield into an effective starting quarterback in the NFL. If they fail to and Mayfield is a bust, John Dorsey end up getting fired and never be a general manger again. That is how much he is risking by taking Mayfield first over all. He better hope his gamble pays off.