Baker Mayfield is having a resurgence year in his redemption arc.
The former number-one overall pick of 2018 is a prime example that growth is not linear.
Roller-Coaster in Cleveland
Mayfield began his NFL career passing for 27 touchdowns, the most ever by a rookie quarterback until Justin Herbert (31) broke the record in 2020.
In his sophomore year, Mayfield nearly had more interceptions (22) than touchdown passes (21).
Mayfield’s third year was his best season in his tenure as a Brown. He threw for 26 touchdown passes and significantly lowered his interceptions total (8) while helping Cleveland clinch a playoff berth for the first time in 18 years.
In his final year in Cleveland, Mayfield threw for only 17 touchdowns and had 13 interceptions.
As rumors swirled around the Browns letting the former number one overall pick go for Deshaun Watson, there were arguments for keeping and letting go of Mayfield. Mayfield was the quarterback who helped a franchise turn things around after going 1-31 in the previous two seasons. He played under several different head coaches and had to navigate through various playbooks.
He was also the quarterback that helped Cleveland win its first playoff game in 26 years. Mayfield was playing through various injuries in his final year in Cleveland. Did he deserve to be trashed as a ‘flameout’ and draw comparisons to big busts that preceded him?
Browns’ Tenure Ends Ugly
The former number-one overall pick was inconsistent in Cleveland. There’s no getting around it.
In his one playoff win as a Brown, Mayfield had benefited from his defense, as he was given four interceptions to work with.
In his final season in Cleveland, reports said that the locker room “needed an adult” in reference to Mayfield’s lack of maturity.
At one point, it seemed like there were more “At Home with Baker Mayfield” commercials than the number of touchdown passes Mayfield threw.
Cleveland finally had its final straw with Mayfield, sending him to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional 2024 draft pick.
Journeyman Finds Success
Mayfield’s short stints with the Panthers and Rams were humbling experiences for him. He threw for a combined ten touchdown passes and eight interceptions in 12 games for the Panthers and the Rams.
Then he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coming in the season Tom Brady retired. It was here that a mindset shift seemed to happen. Mayfield guided the Buccaneers to the playoffs while being named to his first Pro Bowl.
He finished the 2023 season while throwing for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career. He also had a career-best in completion percentage (64.8) and career high in touchdown passes (28).
After signing an extension, Mayfield continued his career resurgence.
As of week 11, Mayfield is third in completion percentage, (70.6) ninth in total passing yards (2505), and third in touchdown passes (24).
Evolving Conversation For an Evolving Career
There’s no need for revisionist history. All things can be true. Mayfield did help turn things around while also having inconsistent performances.
To say he was never the problem in Cleveland while the numbers show he was inconsistent does not add up. There is a reason why he was let go.
At the time of the trade—talent-wise—Mayfield was not better than Watson. But that does not take away from the fact that he has had a history of being a good starting quarterback.
Players are allowed to mature before people can start jumping to conclusions. Mayfield’s maturity, ironically shows that some people that were wrong on Mayfield, should mature and admit they were wrong at some point.
Here are some tweets from 2022:
Here are some tweets from this year:
People who supported Mayfield had to hold on to their takes for dear life when he was in his final season in Cleveland (as well during as his tenures with the Panthers and Rams).
People who doubted Mayfield are currently holding on to their takes for dear life, as he is on pace to put up career highs across the board.
All he needed was a fresh start.
Since Cleveland, Mayfield matured and put his career back on track, as he’s on pace to have career-bests in completion percentage, total passing yards, and touchdown passes.
If you write them off, they won’t write back.
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