Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield struggles in OTAs, let’s not overreact
By Randy Gurzi
It was a day to forget for rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, but Cleveland Browns fans shouldn’t overreact to his OTA struggles
Three interceptions in an offseason program isn’t good. But it’s not something for Cleveland Browns fans to worry about too much even though it was Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick who threw those interceptions.
Mayfield was getting some work in during the team’s organized team activities and he had some struggles to say the least. Although, not all was on him.
The rookie was working with backups as the third-string quarterback. That led to a couple passes going off receivers hands for picks — as well as a couple that could have been taken away but were dropped according to Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com.
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In the end, there were three interceptions, but that wasn’t all the story for Baker. He also had some moments that looked great.
"He threw a touchdown pass in the back left corner to rookie tight end Julian Allen in team goal-line drills, and completed a 15-yard slant to fellow rookie Damion Ratley over the middle in a team period.In 7-on-7s, he hit Njoku in stride about 30 yards down the right side, and the second-year tight end ran it in for a touchdown. In a later team drill, Mayfield, operating under center, pump-faked and delivered a perfect intermediate ball to tight end Devon Cajuste. — Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com"
Of course this is all to be expected. Naturally some who never wanted the Browns to draft Mayfield will pounce on his rough day, but the fact is he’s learning a new offense and new teammates.
On top of that, he’s operating under center — which is fairly new considering how he was primarily a shotgun quarterback for the Sooners.
It’s a long offseason and there will be plenty more stories about Mayfield not living up to his status. There will also be plenty of stories about him looking like the next big star in the NFL.
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The key will be not to overreact to either take. This is a learning process and the Browns plan to take things slow with him. Thanks to the presence of starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor, that won’t be a problem.