Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[Kiddo]

I know of a ref who officiated practices this year for the Browns and he had this to say about him. "dude has the biggest ever chip on his shoulder and he's constantly running his mouth"

I'm beginning to see the "chip on his shoulder" gave him to the confidence to succeed in college against lesser talent but it's not giving him an edge in the pros against equal or better talent. He's too short, too slow and not smart enough to be a success in the NFL. I immediately hated the pick then warmed up to it but now i hate it again. I think we'll see Berry and Stefanski identify "their" QB in the off season and go get him.

 

[CBBI]

I know of a ref who officiated practices this year for the Browns and he had this to say about him. "dude has the biggest ever chip on his shoulder and he's constantly running his mouth"

I'm beginning to see the "chip on his shoulder" gave him to the confidence to succeed in college against lesser talent but it's not giving him an edge in the pros against equal or better talent. He's too short, too slow and not smart enough to be a success in the NFL. I immediately hated the pick then warmed up to it but now i hate it again. I think we'll see Berry and Stefanski identify "their" QB in the off season and go get him.

For what it’s worth, teammates absolutely LOVE that sort of outward confidence out of their quarterback and will defend him to the death... provided he backs it up on the field.

If he doesn’t, it’s an easy way to lose the locker room.

 

[col63onel]

I've tried staying out of this debate, but here goes:

- I have no idea how Baker is so much worse than when he had LITERALLY the worst coaching staff in NFL history and was throwing passes to Breshad Perriman, David Njoku, Antonio Callaway and Jarvis Landry during his worst season as pro, with Chris Hubbard and Greg Robinson/Desmond Harrison as his tackles. I'll never figure that out.

- Baker absolutely plays the rest of the year if he's healthy.

- A Matt Ryan/Matthew Stafford/Phillip Rivers type does nothing for me. They're very unlikely to move the needle that much. Their contracts are probably gonna cost us a player like Chubb or OBJ or Landry or Ward or Conklin because of the cap. Baker on a rookie deal and keeping all those players seems like a better bet. Plus, 2 years down the road, we'll be back in the QB market.

- If at the end of the year, the FO wants to move on from Baker, I have no problem with that. But any sort of meaningful upgrade will be expensive. If the FO likes Dak, I have no problem throwing 2 1sts at him (assuming health). If they think Lawrence or Fields is the guy, I have no problem trading multiple 1sts to move up. Problem is, I don't know if those opportunities will exist. I expect the Cowboys to keep Dak and I expect the teams at the top of the draft (Jets, Giants, WFT, Jags, Falcons) would rather take a QB. Maybe we get lucky and our guy falls to Miami's pick and we can trade up.

- The hail mary hope is that a guy we like falls to our pick in whatever round and that becomes Baker's replacement. Small odds, but I trust the FO to due their diligence on QB prospects.

- I think the most likely scenario is that no team is willing to trade with us, and we ride with Baker for 2 years, then either he's the guy or we're drafting a new one. It'd be great if we had enough ammunition to trade up this year or go get Dak, but I don't think that's too likely.

 

[Kbiz]

If a realistic scenario presents itself where we can upgrade at QB by acquiring a current NFL player in the next two years, I'd rather go that route. While I believe we are in a much better position with our FO being aligned with our coaching staff, I still can't help worry about choosing the wrong guy again in the draft. That would set us back another 3+ years and now, more than ever, we can not afford that.

This team is built to win now offensively and can easily be built to win on the defensive side within a year. I think we are better off with one more year of Mayfield vs. bringing in a rookie QB unless we were to trade up and frankly, the top crop doesn't wow me as much as in years past despite what the media wants to tell us about Lawrence.

I guess this is why we got two Harvard guys and a Penn guy running this team eh buddy boy.

 

[natedagg]

Baker deserves to start being judged on his body of work after 8 games. He just looked like shit, and Team KEVSKI was outcoached unfortunately. On to the next one...
Cinci is the first team that we will have played twice. That’s a big deal for KEVSKI and Baker of course. I am excited to see how it goes, and I expect to see improvements in all 3 phases of the game.
We need Teller and Chubb back too. This will make a world of difference, getting back a guard who was playing at an all pro level and an RB who is one of the best pure rushers in the game. It will also allow us to play Hunt and Chubb on the field at the same time, which is something I think we all love.

 

[Los216]

I think it's safe to say that The Browns aren't getting Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. We are not going to be in position to get them.

So it really comes down to two questions.

Do you think Baker Mayfield is going to turn it around and play well enough to end this discussion for good?

Do you think the Browns are going to roll into next season after paying a hefty price to move up in the draft and take the 3rd or 4th best QB prospect and have that guy be our Franchise QB going forward?

I think the answer to both of those questions is no. That's why I believe that they're going to sign or trade for a veteran QB in the offseason and that's who's going to be our starter going forward. People are stating their preference about not wanting to go that route and I think it's obvious that we would all like to draft a dude and have him solidify the position for the next decade. The odds are just very low that we'll be in position to do that.

 

[NorthCoastBias]

@natedagg I could kill you

 

[The Oi]

Baker deserves to start being judged on his body of work after 8 games. He just looked like shit, and Team KEVSKI was outcoached unfortunately. On to the next one...
Cinci is the first team that we will have played twice. That’s a big deal for KEVSKI and Baker of course. I am excited to see how it goes, and I expect to see improvements in all 3 phases of the game.
We need Teller and Chubb back too. This will make a world of difference, getting back a guard who was playing at an all pro level and an RB who is one of the best pure rushers in the game. It will also allow us to play Hunt and Chubb on the field at the same time, which is something I think we all love.

You dont get to do this bc you *clap* hate *clap* the Browns *clap*.

 

[natedagg]

You dont get to do this bc you *clap* hate *clap* the Browns *clap*.

I am 1 for 2 in my picks, and called the Steelers loss from a mile away. It’s obvious bc we suck without Teller. Well except for Miles.
Our secondary needs to practice inside of those bubble suits. Can’t stay on the field! Can’t tackle on the field either! Tackling like the ball carrier just got a positive Covid test! Who are these guys diving around like E Honda!

 

[The Oi]

I am 1 for 2 in my picks, and called the Steelers loss from a mile away. It’s obvious bc we suck without Teller. Well except for Miles.
Our secondary needs to practice inside of those bubble suits. Can’t stay on the field! Can’t tackle on the field either! Tackling like the ball carrier just got a positive Covid test! Who are these guys diving around like E Honda!

More M Bison less E Honda

 

[CBBI]

If a realistic scenario presents itself where we can upgrade at QB by acquiring a current NFL player in the next two years, I'd rather go that route. While I believe we are in a much better position with our FO being aligned with our coaching staff, I still can't help worry about choosing the wrong guy again in the draft. That would set us back another 3+ years and now, more than ever, we can not afford that.

This team is built to win now offensively and can easily be built to win on the defensive side within a year. I think we are better off with one more year of Mayfield vs. bringing in a rookie QB unless we were to trade up and frankly, the top crop doesn't wow me as much as in years past despite what the media wants to tell us about Lawrence.

I guess this is why we got two Harvard guys and a Penn guy running this team eh buddy boy.

Scared money don't make money.

Evaluate the QB prospects and get it right. That's what this front office is paid to do. If they're not willing to take the risk, then they probably shouldn't be in their positions.

At this point and time, Baker Mayfield is not capable of leading the team to success at the highest levels. Could get get there? Maybe. I'm very skeptical, but I'm not ruling it out yet.

But if he doesn't either develop to that point by over the next 2.5 months or show tangible signs of growth that would lead the organization to believe he still has that in him by the end of this season, then the front office owes it to the rest of the players and the coaches to find someone they think can perform better, rookie or veteran.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Scared money don't make money.

Evaluate the QB prospects and get it right. That's what this front office is paid to do. If they're not winning to take the risk, then they probably shouldn't be in their positions.

At this point and time, Baker Mayfield is not capable of leading the team to success at the highest levels. Could get get there? Maybe. I'm very skeptical, but I'm not ruling it out yet.

But if he doesn't either develop to that point by over the next 2.5 months or show tangible signs of growth that would lead the organization to believe he still has that in him by the end of this season, then the front office owes it to the rest of the players and the coaches to find someone they think can perform better, rookie or veteran.

Also... just off the past few drafts.

Mahomes was the "second best QB" in his class.

Watson was the "third best QB" in his class.

Josh Allen was the "third best QB" in his class.

Lamar Jackson was the "fifth best QB" in his class.

And now Herbert was the "third best QB" in his class.

Los saying that the Browns trading up to take the "third of fourth best QB in the class" is just dumb. If you think a guy can be the guy, you don't care how many other guys were taken by other teams ahead of him.

 

[CBBI]

I think it's safe to say that The Browns aren't getting Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. We are not going to be in position to get them.

So it really comes down to two questions.

Do you think Baker Mayfield is going to turn it around and play well enough to end this discussion for good?

Do you think the Browns are going to roll into next season after paying a hefty price to move up in the draft and take the 3rd or 4th best QB prospect and have that guy be our Franchise QB going forward?

I think the answer to both of those questions is no. That's why I believe that they're going to sign or trade for a veteran QB in the offseason and that's who's going to be our starter going forward. People are stating their preference about not wanting to go that route and I think it's obvious that we would all like to draft a dude and have him solidify the position for the next decade. The odds are just very low that we'll be in position to do that.

Couple things...

1 - I don't think it's a guarantee that Fields goes 2nd overall. He might end up when it's all said and done, but as it stands right now, there's certainly not a consensus that he's the QB2 at this point (Dane Brugler for instance ranks Lance ahead of him) nor is Fields considered by just about anyone to be 2nd best overall prospect right now.

2 - There's still 10 games to go and as of now, there are 10 teams that only have 1 win. Of those 10, you could easily make the case that five of them definitely aren't picking a QB. Going deeper, it's possible even 2-3 more of them will pass on a QB depending on how the board shakes out.

There's just not going to be five teams that go 2-14. Some of these teams are going to win more games than people expect. It's going to come down to draft order, but regardless, I am very confident that if the Browns (who are likely going to be picking somewhere between 17-22) are willing to part with their 1st in 2022, they can move up and far enough into the top 10 to get a guy they really like.

There's only been one year this decade where a team hasn't traded into the top 10 of the first round. It happens a lot. The Browns can make it happen if they want to.

 

[CBBI]

Also... just off the past few drafts.

Mahomes was the "second best QB" in his class.

Watson was the "third best QB" in his class.

Josh Allen was the "third best QB" in his class.

Lamar Jackson was the "fifth best QB" in his class.

And now Herbert was the "third best QB" in his class.

Los saying that the Browns trading up to take the "third of fourth best QB in the class" is just dumb. If you think a guy can be the guy, you don't care how many other guys were taken by other teams ahead of him.

I wholeheartedly agree.

The question for the Browns or any other team looking to trade up shouldn't be is "is this player better than Trevor Lawrence?"

The two questions are "is this player better than the QB's we already have on our roster? do we feel we can win at the highest levels with this player?"

If the answers to those two questions are yes, then you move up.

 

[Lee]

Also... just off the past few drafts.

Mahomes was the "second best QB" in his class.

Watson was the "third best QB" in his class.

Josh Allen was the "third best QB" in his class.

Lamar Jackson was the "fifth best QB" in his class.

And now Herbert was the "third best QB" in his class.

Los saying that the Browns trading up to take the "third of fourth best QB in the class" is just dumb. If you think a guy can be the guy, you don't care how many other guys were taken by other teams ahead of him.

The list really goes on and on...Brees, Brady, Montana, Rothlisberger, Rodgers, Marino, Heck throw in Watson if you want, but I think he is over rated.