Baker Mayfield can thank Russell Wilson for being 1st pick
By Lee Vowell
Baker Mayfield went first in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield is not tall. He can move well. Does he remind you in some ways of a certain Seattle Seahawks quarterback? Mayfield should say thank you to Russell Wilson.
Russell Wilson isn’t a big quarterback. But he has a strong arm. And he can create plays with his legs. Baker Mayfield could do this in college, but can he do this in the NFL? Either way, if Wilson weren’t the player he is, Mayfield would not be the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
I am not saying Mayfield isn’t worthy of being the number one pick. He might be or he might not be. Only his production over several seasons in the NFL will show how good he is. But there was a time not too long ago that a quarterback had to be 6’2″ or taller to go as high as Mayfield did in the draft.
Drew Brees is pretty good, obviously. But Russell Wilson changed the game for shorter quarterbacks. Wilson has proven what a quarterback can do with intelligence, arm-strength and mobility. Without Wilson going to back-to-back Super Bowls and having a quarterback rating that currently ranks second all-time, Mayfield would not be the first quarterback taken this year.
Sam Darnold or Josh Allen have better physical measurables than does Mayfield. Or Wilson. But the Cleveland Browns took Mayfield because they like Russell Wilson. There is no other way to argue that.
Hopefully Mayfield will go on to be successful in the NFL. No ill wishes here. Why would there be? But he will definitely make a ton of money.
Related Story: What will Seahawks do with their picks in the NFL draft?
And for that he should be able to afford several Christmas cards to send to Wilson as a thank you for putting himself in the position to make that money.