Cleveland Browns: 7-Round 2018 mock draft, Vol. 5
By Peter Smith
Round 1: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma –- 6-0.375″, 216 lbs.
- 68.5 completion percentage, 9.75 yards per attempt, 10.6 adjusted yards per attempt, 131 touchdowns, 30 interceptions (4.36:1), 304.3 yards per game in 48 games. 1,079 yards at 2.67 yards per carry and 21 rushing touchdowns.
Arm: 30 1/2″
Wingspan: 73 3/8″
Hand: 9 1/2″
After people speculated that Baker Mayfield was 5′-10, he measured in basically exactly where he was expected. His hands measured in more than big enough, even though neither measurement is considered official until the scouting combine. Mayfield is a 6-0 quarterback. He’s also the best quarterback in this class.
The other notable change is that the Browns announced the hire of Todd Haley as their offensive coordinator. This has…no obvious impact on the quarterback decision insofar it doesn’t automatically cross anyone off the list. It’s not difficult to see Mayfield doing some of the things Haley’s offenses have done whether it was Pittsburgh, Kansas City or Arizona.
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Mayfield’s Senior Bowl trip was memorable largely in terms of the bad reactions people had to his decision to show up late with his mother in the hospital with a serious medical situation. There are mixed reviews as to Mayfield as a person. Some (like Dustin Fox’s account) are glowing while some aren’t so sure (Nate Ulrich’s account). As with most things, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but teams have to find out the truth.
On the field, Mayfield showed why he was the best quarterback there and it wasn’t close. He put in a lot of extra work to make sure the snaps from under center were right. Mayfield carved up defenses when in both the 7-on-7 and team portions of practice. His understanding of throwing windows and anticipation as well as pure accuracy, at times he made it took incredibly easy.
Mayfield also looked great in maneuvering in the pocket and avoiding pressure, for those who point to the second half of the Georgia game as some exposed weakness. He avoided pressure, ignored trash around his feet and made the right reads and accurate throws.
If there was a weakness, it was how Mayfield rolled to his left. It’s not really something he was asked to do at Oklahoma, turning his back to the field getting out there. His balance was off and he wasn’t gathered properly on his throws, leading to balls often short hopping the target. That’s a matter of reps and simply working on it.
The interviews and the homework behind the scenes into Mayfield’s character, motivations and everything else are paramount in any team’s decision to take him. Nevertheless, on the field, playing the position, he’s the best and it’s not close. From a pure throws standpoint, his mobility and then his poise, competitive drive and how teammates respond to him, no one’s better. Other quarterbacks in this class might be as good, but no one is better. So when it comes down to it, unless the background work turns up reasons to pass on him, it should be an easy decision to take Mayfield.