Making the case why Baker Mayfield should be Seahawks QB of the future
What went wrong for Baker in Cleveland
Baker Mayfield no doubt has played a large role in the culture change we have seen in Cleveland, but it was not always sunshine and rainbows. After a successful season in his rookie year, the Browns went all in to get to the playoffs, trading for Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants.
The move and the season backfired as the Browns would fail to live up to the lofty expectations, going 6-10 while Baker’s completion percentage dropped from 63.8% to 59.4% and his QB rating fell off a cliff from 93.7 to 78.8. To go along with the struggle of the season, Baker’s attitude, and relationship with Odell were called into question.
The 2020 season proved to be a breath of fresh air into the team as we mentioned earlier. It is important to remember that Cleveland’s offensive line in 2020 was one of the best in the league. Cleveland would use a powerful running game, strong defense, and an efficient Baker Mayfield to get within one score of going to the AFC Championship.
Coming into the 2021 season, expectations were once again high, but the team fell apart. After a promising 3-1 start, their season would be derailed by injuries and dysfunction, finishing at 8-9 and missing the postseason. Baker would struggle through the campaign with a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. Mayfield would try to push through, which while admirable, likely hindered his play and Cleveland’s season.
The Jekyll and Hyde career for Baker and the Browns appears to be at an end for the once college legend, turned top overall pick. At the end of the day, there are a few factors to why it didn’t work out in Cleveland.
First, Baker simply just didn’t play well enough. When you’re the top pick, you’re expected to be the franchise savior for that team. Baker had two really good seasons, but never looked the part of a top ten quarterback.
His accuracy has not been as accurate as he was in college, something that separated him from so many others. His mobility, while above average, has led to more injuries than touchdowns that we saw at Oklahoma. His attitude and leadership have been questioned for years, only adding more fuel to the fire.
It should be remembered though that Baker Mayfield went to a bad environment. During his first four seasons, he’s had three different head coaches. That is not a recipe for success for anyone, and yet Baker broke the curse and helped get Cleveland back to respectability. What could a change of scenery do for the still young quarterback?