This does not come as a great shock, but 2018 No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield will open the season as the Browns’ backup signal-caller, as Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald tweets (though head coach Hue Jackson wants to inform his team of his decision before making it official). It was always understood that Tyrod Taylor, whom the Browns acquired in an offseason trade with the Bills, would serve as the team’s starting quarterback at least until Mayfield is deemed ready, and we recently heard that Cleveland is allegedly open to extending Taylor’s contract (he is eligible for free agency at season’s end).
The decision to name Mayfield the No. 2 QB, then, is actually more about the battle between Mayfield and Drew Stanton — Jackson said last week that he was still undecided as to which player would serve as the backup — than the “battle” between Mayfield and Taylor. Stanton, the long-time second-stringer who signed a two-year pact with the Browns in March, will be the team’s No. 3 quarterback, assuming Cleveland elects to keep three QBs.
Now let’s take a look at several more notes out of Cleveland:
- Josh Gordon will not play in the Browns’ preseason finale due to hamstring discomfort, but Jackson says the embattled wideout — who is expected to be ready for Week 1 — is “getting close,” per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (via Twitter).
- In her weekly mailbag, Cabot says the Browns have not ruled out signing Dez Bryant, who recently rejected the team’s contract offer. She says Bryant liked the Browns and clearly the team had interest in him, so things could change at any time.
- Cabot also suggests in her mailbag that Shon Coleman, who was given the first chance to succeed Joe Thomas at left tackle, could well be on the roster bubble.
- Jackson says he “thinks” Zane Gonzalez is in the lead in the Browns’ kicking battle, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter).
Wonder if the Jaguars would be a fit for Dez since Lee is not out for the year? Seems a better opportunity for Bryant compared to the Browns.
Hue will be fired before seasons end and baker will be starting at some point this year.
Trading for Tyrod makes 0 sense unless they can sign him to be a long term backup
They traded for him so that they had a competent QB to play while Baker sat (or at the time the #1 overall pick)… I find it funny that Jackson needs to anoint Baker the backup. Let’s be real, Baker has looked better than tyrod this preseason. Not saying Baker should be thrown in there, but Baker is clearly the best QB on this roster.
Have they put Baker against 1st team D yet? From what i recall, he didnt in his first two games
Pretty sure he played most of the first half in the last game. Dude has a proven track record of being competent. He’s only there for one year and I really hope he wraps it into a decent contract.
Taylor has looked way better against much better talent.
Tyrod completed some passes against the first team defenses, and that’s pretty much it… this is a mute point, browns aren’t resigning tyrod and Baker isn’t sitting longer than 16 straight games. Tyrod can easily win a QB competition or be a bridge QB elsewhere. That’s what he is, and that’s ok, but let’s not act like Tyrod has a higher ceiling than Baker. I’m just saying Baker would outperform Tyrod given the opportunity (which he has yet to be given, i.e. playing w the 1s)
“moot”
Tyrod was given 4 straight plays from the 1 to get the ball into the end zone, didn’t do it, and damn near broke his wrist. How is that “way better?”
To be fair Haley’s play calling from the 1 sucked
Preseason is practice. Tyrod had 4 opportunities and didn’t get it in there. He could have checked to a run, I guess. Regardless Tyrod didn’t get it in there… and almost broke his wrist… I don’t think that’s the sequence of plays if it’s the regular season.
A high 3rd round pick for 1 season of a competent QB who is 100 percent not your starting QB beyond 2018 is not worth it. Like i said if they can get him to be the backup after 2018 great.
People have said dumber things, but not much dumber.
Care to elaborate? Name calling is nice but unless you back it up you just look bad. Year a rebuilding team like the Browns should trade a 3rd round pick for 1 season of a player. A QB whonlets face it is not that good
I’m surprised Zane has any competition. He did well last year after some bumps in the road the first couple weeks last year. He’s got a big time leg.
Jackson and “thinks” in the same sentence is scary.
So essentially, the only person that Hue has ruled out as being part of the QB rotation is Mary Kay Cabot.
but she hasn’t