Cleveland Browns young sensation Baker Mayfield knows all about being impressive and defying odds.
After high school, Mayfield was given a three-star rating that ranked him behind many quarterbacks selected after him, such as Lamar Jackson or Sam Darnold. Three stars is not usually a designation that people boast about, but Mayfield took the rating in stride, using it as motivation rather than a negative description.
Mayfield transferred from Texas Tech to Oklahoma and went on to win the Heisman trophy during his final season with the Sooners.
Despite all this, ESPN listed Mayfield as having “character concerns” ahead of the draft.
Mayfield was drafted No. 1 overall and was thrust into the starting role less than a month into the regular season. He hasn’t looked back since, as his name was in serious consideration for Pepsi Rookie of the Year, an honor that controversially went to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.
Mayfield’s success as a rookie doesn’t appear to have been a case of beginner’s luck.
Yesterday, during the Browns’ organized team activities, Mayfield took a snap, rolled right, eluded defenders, and completed a beautiful throw to Rashard Higgins in the end zone. Despite being covered by three defenders, Higgins cradled the football in his arms as he dragged his right and left toes on the ground, making sure he stayed in bounds as the referee (yes, there are refs at OTAs) signaled for a successful touchdown.
WE SEE YOU, HOLLYWOOD! ✨
👀 @CALLME_WOOD pic.twitter.com/tZIa8SAtTD
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 28, 2019
But, in a very Baker Mayfield fashion, the Texas native wasn’t done yet. Today, less than 24 hours after the impressive connection with Higgins, Mayfield quickly took snaps in a play-action formation, faking the handoff and firing jaw-dropping darts to his receivers, who hauled in the passes as soon as they came out of their break with ease.
Baker hitting these dudes just as they come out of their break >>>> https://t.co/gquRF90eRd
— Jordan Zirm (@JordanZirm) May 30, 2019
Baker Mayfield spent all of 2018 silencing the doubters, the haters, and the Colin Cowherds, but he is nowhere close to being finished.
This first glimpse of Mayfield at OTAs only brings optimism ahead of what should be a fun and eventful 2019 season for the Cleveland Browns.
