Cleveland Browns: 53 man roster prediction midway through the preseason
By Randy Gurzi
Quarterback (3): Tyrod Taylor, Drew Stanton, Baker Mayfield
This position is finally looking solid but is not without debate. In the offseason, John Dorsey went out and traded for Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills. He also signed Drew Stanton and then shipped off everyone from a season ago. DerShone Kizer is in Green Bay, Cody Kessler went to Jacksonville and Kevin Hogan landed in Washington.
The Browns then made a move with the No. 1 overall pick as they selected Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma. That’s where the debate comes in. The Browns are stubbornly refusing to even consider starting Mayfield, even though he’s ready.
They have been referring to the past where rookies didn’t work out, but the problem there was the picks were bad. Brandon Weeden, Brady Quinn, Johnny Manziel and DeShone Kizer were bad picks. And they weren’t No. 1 overall. The last person to draft a quarterback No. 1 overall and not play him was Jeff Fisher — he’s now out of the league.
Head coach Hue Jackson may be headed that way too as he’s put Mayfield third behind Drew Stanton and will start Taylor no matter what happens. That’s no knock on Taylor, who can be a good player, but the fact is Mayfield has a much higher ceiling and recent football proves that young quarterbacks don’t have to sit to succeed.
Next. Mayfield needs time with starters. dark
Even if that’s what Jackson and Dorsey keep trying to sell people on.