Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield Isn’t What Fans Want Him To Be
Don’t sell yourselves short Cleveland Browns fans. You’ve been through hell and back as fans of this gloried franchise. The city of Cleveland deserves a Super Bowl more than any team in pro sports. With that being said, the Cleveland Browns also deserve a franchise QB.
That is not Baker Mayfield.
I’m fully aware of how big of an impact Baker has had on the Browns. He’s seemingly been the only QB to play for the team for more than 2 seasons. As Browns fans, we can all accept and agree that he’s been a beacon of light for this team in terms of establishing a foundation of success. It’s now time to strengthen that foundation. While this might be hard to hear, Baker isn’t a building block.
If the Cleveland Browns want to sign Baker to a $30 million dollar a year deal, that’s something the front office has obviously given great thought to. I fail to see how that really makes the Browns Super Bowl contenders for the coming year.
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The big story this offseason was if the Browns were to go after Aaron Rodgers, would that benefit the team? A lot of fans (myself included), wanted to give Mayfield this shot. Now, asking me almost halfway through the season, I’d take Rodgers in heartbeat.
There are QB’s who can lead, Baker Mayfield is a leader. There are also QB’s who lead and can make those around them better, think Russell Wilson, Rodgers, and Tom Brady. I challenge any Browns fan to tell me with a straight face that Baker is a QB who can do both. Mayfield is not a generational QB. He is the 4th best QB in his division. Baker has been surpassed by an aging Ben Rothlisberger, a 2nd-year, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson, who many claim was the least efficient passing QB win MVP in NFL history, not ideal.
(Insert paragraph Browns making the mistake of taking Baker Mayfield over Josh Allen.)
Try and say whatever you want to save Mayfield in your eyes, however, he’s the current Trent Dilfer of the NFL. He’s the QB, who if he makes the Super Bowl, won’t be because of his play, rather others around him. The defense and running game of the Browns has gotten them this far. Please, save it with the Baker homer card.
Did Baker get his team to the Divisional Round of the playoffs? Yes. Don’t forget, Blake Bortles was a bogus defensive penalty away from taking the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Super Bowl. Now, without looking, tell me where Blake Bortles is currently playing in the NFL?
The NFL is a game of finding the right QB. Sometimes you’ll get lucky and get by with a Trent Dilfer, or almost make it with a Blake Bortles, however, that’s going to depend on other avenues of your team. Dilfer and Bortles weren’t franchise QB’s. It’s a lot harder to win with a QB that isn’t a franchise QB. Does Baker Mayfield give the Browns a better shot at winning than Aaron Rodgers? Don’t lie to yourself. You know the answer to the question is no.
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It’s fine if you want to latch on to Baker because he’s the best QB you’ve had in decades. What’s not okay is being in the mindest of, “he’s the best QB we’ve had in decades so we need to keep him.” It’s okay to admit that Baker Mayfield isn’t the right guy for the Browns. It doesn’t’ make you a bad fan for admitting that.
By all means, continue to cheer for him as long as he’s the starting QB for Cleveland. It’s just sad to see so many fans blinded by this false hope he brings. You have no loyalty to him as a player. He’s not secretly handing out free cash to his supporters and loyal followers behind a Cheesecake Factory. As a fan, you have a right to want a winner. No shame in admitting that’s not Baker.
The Cleveland Browns aren’t far away from a Super Bowl. Next season (if not this season), you go trade for Aaron Rodgers, draft a QB to develop under him, and don’t even think of giving Baker the money to be your franchise QB. Don’t find yourself in a Jared Goff situation. That is exactly where this is headed. Be careful what you wish for, Browns fans.
Image Source: Cleveland Browns/ NFL
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
