Cleveland Browns: Hue Jackson makes smart decision with Baker Mayfield

After a long preseason of making odd decisions with Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson looks like finally made a smart decision regarding the rookie.

Last week, Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson ruffled some feathers when asked who he was considering making Tyrod Taylor’s backup quarterback.

Despite Baker Mayfield playing well in the preseason, Jackson said that he was undecided if Mayfield or Drew Stanton would be the team’s backup.

But during his press conference following Sunday’s practice, Jackson said that he was “leaning towards” making Mayfield the backup quarterback.

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Stanton has been a backup quarterback for most of his career, seeing some average results for a backup. The biggest strength to Stanton’s game is coming in and managing games, not trying to do too much that would cost his team a game.

But Stanton was not brought into Cleveland to be the backup. His presence on the Browns roster is to help Mayfield adjust to the behind the scenes of being a quarterback in the NFL. Stanton has been in the NFL since 2007 and has seen how a bunch of different talented quarterbacks prepare for games. He will be huge benefit to how Mayfield develops.

However, there is no question that Mayfield should be the team’s backup – but only for this season. Mayfield has shown signs that he has the talent and the ability that could lead to him winning games already.

If something were to happen to Taylor and the team was forced to go to their backup, it would be foolish if Jackson decided to put Stanton on the field before Mayfield.

This could also mean that Mayfield has really impressed the coaching staff the past couple of weeks. The organization has been adamant that Mayfield will not play much in 2018. But if they make him the backup quarterback, they must feel that he has shown enough progress in his development that they will feel comfortable putting him on the field this year.

Since going through the Mayfield playing time circus during training camp and the preseason, it looks like Jackson is making a very smart decision by making Mayfield the backup for this season.