Browns QB Baker Mayfield‘s inconsistent play this season, combined with his disappointing sophomore campaign in 2019, has led to plenty of speculation that the former No. 1 overall pick could be benched in favor of backup Case Keenum. However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says that’s not going to happen.
Per Cabot, Mayfield will get the final 10 games of the season to prove himself. Though she does add that he may not keep his job if he continues to throw a high number of interceptions, the Browns are still high on Mayfield and believe his performance will improve.
Mayfield obviously offers far more upside than Keenum, and Cleveland has far more invested in the third-year passer, so the decision is not an especially difficult one. Still, the fact that Mayfield has played well against poor defenses in 2020 and has struggled mightily against the better teams is cause for concern. He did play through sore ribs in last week’s blowout loss to the Steelers and had only one full day of practice leading up to the game, so perhaps there is reason for optimism moving forward.
After all, the 4-2 Browns have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, and after they battle the Bengals this afternoon, they will have a bye next week. At that point, Mayfield should be completely healthy and ready to lead a talented offense towards a playoff berth.
If he does play well down the stretch, Cabot says Cleveland will certainly pick up his fifth-year option, though the team’s evaluation may be made more difficult by the relatively low level of competition that Mayfield will be facing. If he does not play well, or if he continues to be hit-or-miss, new GM Andrew Berry will have a very tough call to make.
Keenum is the better QB.
Trubisky had a higher passer rating than Mayfield and didn’t get his 5th year renewed. Not worth the $20MM+. I expected the same for Mayfield.
Kerry Collins 2.0
Don’t make fun of Kerry Collins like that !!!
Don’t make fun of Kerry Collins like that !
His job isn’t in Jeopardy. It’s in Wheel of Fortune.
Winning cures all and he’ll be fine. He’s stunk against 2 of the best defenses in the league and both on the road.
He’s by far the best qb they have on that team and gives them the best chance to make the playoffs. He needs to keep improving but his Oline needs to play much better and not constantly be such hot garbage.
Lot of people lookin very stupid in this thread now.
Love it when he silences the haters.
Maybe OBJ is the problem and not him….think about it.
Just another wasted Cleveland QB pick. It’s where QBs go to die. I wonder if Brian Sipe had any sons………
Wonder how they’d have looked if they traded #1 and #4 for Wentz the year after the SB and the Eagles stuck with Foles. Barkley and Chubb or Nelson could have been Eagles. Baker would have gone to NYG or NYJ. Would have been interesting at least for the league. Moreso than Darnold and Jones.
What would they want with wentz? Neither him or baker should have been top 2 picks.
Seriously, you want to bench your number one overall pick after a handful of bad games and a year under the most unprepared staff in the NFL? It’s not like Mayfield can’t play. This is his first year under a new coach, and one who actually seems as if he could be competent. My God, his fifth year option hasn’t even come up yet-the only reason we are having this discussion is because we see him as an established franchise quarterback and NOT a developing third year player. Consider that before trying to bench the guy.
Let’s also remember that most of this criticism is rooted in “I dislike Baker Mayfield personally” and not “I can demonstrate to you that he is not a starting quarterback” which of course does not mean that he doesn’t have a long way to go. As I said, he’s only in his third year. There is a lot that he needs to successfully learn.