Comparing Baker Mayfield to the other rookie quarterbacks so far
By Mitch Zoloty
![CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 23: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 23: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1021999406-850x560-9f6c2f32512c10c7dcebbcd4566002b38873d25f795a0635721da2c416bef4ee.jpg)
Fourth Quarter Comebacks
"1. Baker Mayfield 1 (tie) 1. Josh Rosen 1 (tie) 1. Josh Allen 1 (tie) 4. Sam Darnold 0"
This statistic isn’t one that every quarterback has a chance to get every game. This usually means that the team has been getting beat all day. Quarterbacks with good supporting casts and a good defense should find trouble racking up this stat. However, none of these rookies are applicable to that description.
Mayfield, Rosen, and Allen have all led a fourth quarter comeback, which is the trademark of a franchise quarterback. A franchise quarterback has to be able to overcome the odds and beat teams that are better overall than his own team. Fourth quarter comebacks don’t entirely rely on the quarterback, but a team needs to score points to come back, and the quarterback is usually the key to scoring.
Game Winning Drives
"1. Baker Mayfield 2 2. Josh Rosen 1 (tie) 2. Josh Allen 1 (tie) 4. Sam Darnold 0"
This statistic is very similar to the previous one. However, one could argue this one is more important. Game winning drives show how clutch a quarterback is. This is where the greatest quarterbacks make their money. Brady has 44 game winning drives in his career.
This stat may throw some off considering Mayfield currently has more game winning drives than games he won as a starter. Baker came in for Tyrod Taylor against the Jets to lead the Browns to their first win, this being where he picked up his first game winning drive.
It is surprising that Darnold is the only rookie quarterback to not have a game winning drive yet. Despite having played in two fewer games, Mayfield has two game winning drives, including one in his first NFL action. That is pretty impressive for the rookie and shows good things to come in the future.