Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield already taking on veteran responsibilities

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has impressed with his performance on the field, and he is already performing veteran quarterback duties.

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has taken the football world by storm with how well he has led the team into playing meaningful games in December.

He is establishing himself as a leader, as well as establishing himself as one of the next best quarterbacks in the league. So far this season, Mayfield has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 3,065 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Not only is he performing better than a rookie quarterback usually does, but he is quickly taking on more responsibilities in the offense. In Peter King’s weekly Football Morning in America, King wrote that Mayfield already has the ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage.

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"Now, at the line, Mayfield has been given the freedom to change plays (even very late on the play clock). That’s because he’s a sponge, and has worked to learn all pre-snap contingencies, and Kitchens trusts his judgment."

It is rare for a rookie quarterback to take on that responsibility so early in his career, let alone his first season in the league. But offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens trusts Mayfield, and that is obvious by giving him the freedom to change plays.

Even with Kitchens taking over play-calling duties midway through the season, Mayfield has made it look like the two have been working on game-plans with each other for weeks.

Giving a rookie quarterback the ability to change plays at the line of scrimmage goes to show how much work Mayfield has done to learn the playbook. Coaches will wait for quarterbacks to either master the playbook or have extended knowledge of NFL offenses before letting them change plays.

Mayfield’s work ethic on and off the field is why the Browns felt so confident in selecting him with the first overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.  His work ethic is what is allowing him to take on more responsibility with only 11 career starts under his belt.

If the Browns decide to keep Kitchens after the season, it will be exciting to see what he and Mayfield can do with a full off-season together. If Mayfield already has this much control over the offense, it is exciting to see what he can do with a full off-season of preparation.