Cleveland Browns: Include Baker Mayfield in the QB draft debate

The Cleveland Browns need to make sure and keep their eye on Baker Mayfield in the debate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft

To Cleveland Browns fans still reluctant to include Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield’s name in the 2018 NFL Draft debate:

Consider the following numbers as seen in a few eye-opening Twitterings and enlightening posts floating around the internet.

The first addresses a major beef on Mayfield, which is that he’s only 6-foot-1 (at most).

Why does this matter?

It’s professional football basics – an effective NFL quarterback has to throw the ball over the raised arms of a whole slew of rushing 6-foot-8 defensive linemen. Understandably, some Browns fans doubt that sub-tall Mayfield’s throwing arm is strong enough and accurate enough to get the job done, especially from his relatively lower angle, no offense.

It turns out Mayfield definitely has the power to do it.

Doubters need only read @BrownsCap’s surprisingly honest tweet today, a reaction to the recent release of the 2018 NFL Combine Velocity numbers that shows Mayfield throws at a ripping 60 mph:

"Browns Cap Space: $109,494,537‏ @brownscapReplying to @BrownsMockDraftI’ll cop to thinking Mayfield didn’t have a 60mph arm. I was thinking 56-57 on tape. 59-60 mph is upper 1/3 of NFL ball velocity (Combine testing, fwiw). And the fact that Baker was throwing this hard and still maintained his accuracy is pretty special."

How important a factor is velocity?

More from Dawg Pound Daily

Anything under 55 mph is traditionally frowned upon in the NFL, though, and based on the numbers in John Cooney’s article in Pass, softer armed quarterbacks like Drew Brees (52 mph), Dak Prescott (54 mph) and (Browns head coach Hue Jackson’s favorite guy and frontrunning free agency pickup) AJ McCarron (53 mph) are the successful exceptions. Harder throwing Kirk Cousins (59 mph) and Carson Wentz (57 mph) slipped through the Browns’ hands, while last year’s Browns starter DeShon Kizer (56 mph) struggled even at his more desirable height of 6-foot-4.

Mayfield arm-power doubters please note – he throws harder than every single successful NFL quarterback mentioned in that last paragraph.

And Kizer, too, no offense.

Plus, out of all the quarterbacks the Browns are considering for draft day, only Wyoming’s Josh Allen (62 mph) threw harder. USC prospect Sam Darnold didn’t throw at the combine, of course, but come pro-day his true velocity will be revealed, and it’s unlikely it’ll be north of Mayfield’s 60 mph.

Now there are those who still question Mayfield’s accuracy.

A @PFF_College post from last December gives the long-game accuracy answer to that:

"PFF Draft‏Verified account @PFF_CollegeOklahoma QB Baker Mayfield was the most accurate draft-eligible QB on deep passes this season."

That’s based on his impressive 62.5 % adjusted completion percentage on deep passes.

But if you also require tangible proof of his pinpoint, under-pressure short-game accuracy, look no further than the NFL Network Accuracy Challenge he just completed. Holey moley, watch this confident young man’s balls hit and literally rip the small targets clean off their nets with ten and fifteen yard bullets. On demand and in front of live cameras, mind you, Mayfield dead center destroys five of the six targets and only misses the last one by an inch.

Silly, maybe, but an impressive display of in-the-moment throwing accuracy.

Finally, for those who still question Mayfield’s character, our very own Martin McConnell has legitimate worth-a-read answers in his latest Dawg Pound Daily post that ends any ridiculous comparisons that have been made between him and failed Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel.

McConnell concludes about Mayfield:

"“When you look deeper, the accuracy, the talent, the football intelligence and the constant chip on the shoulder are all things that the Browns need.” — McConnell"

At the very least, Mayfield’s name should be firmly planted in the Browns’ new quarterback debate.

Next: Could Mason Rudolph be Cleveland’s answer?

Who knows what Browns general mamager John Dorsey and his crew have in mind for draft day, but if for some reason they decide Mayfield’s the best young quarterback to turn Cleveland’s worst team around, it might not be the end of the world.

But Browns fans will only believe that when they see it, no offense.

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