Cleveland Browns: 3 most important players on offense

1. Baker Mayfield, Quarterback

As important as both Greg Robinson, Odell Beckham, Jr., and even our honorable mention Nick Chubb are to the 2019 Cleveland Browns, no one will mean more to the success — or lack thereof — than second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield will. The No. 1 overall pick last season out of Oklahoma, Mayfield set a team record for passing yards by a rookie with 3,725 yards. He also beat the record for touchdowns by a rookie as he threw 27 — which topped Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson‘s mark of 26.

Mayfield was expected to sit on the bench as a rookie as former head coach Hue Jackson thought a player could learn more by watching rather than playing. Due to him having that mindset, he wouldn’t even let Mayfield practice with the first team, knowing that could cause a quarterback controversy since he was more talented than Tyrod Taylor who the former head coach anointed as the starter before he even put on a Browns’ uniform.

The rookie didn’t let that hurt him as he led the team to a comeback win in his very first appearance on a Thursday Night Football game against the New York Jets. He then led them to a 6-7 record as the starter but it could have been much better had a couple of breaks gone their way ‚— such as the officials getting the calls right in Mayfield’s first start against the Oakland Raiders.

Heading into his second season, Mayfield is quickly becoming the face of the franchise. He’s been appearing on late night talk shows and comedy specials as he’s once again made it cool to be a member of the Browns.

Looking forward to 2019, no one on the roster means more to their chances at winning than Mayfield does. He’s the leader on, and off the field and everything the offense does is going to run through him.

It may have been a shock to some when he was the pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but everyone now sees what general manager John Dorsey saw — a winner. That’s why he’s the most vital offensive player for the Browns.