Breaking down the 2020 Cleveland Browns: Quarterback
By Greg Newland
Baker Mayfield
While many crowned Baker Mayfield the Cleveland Savior after one tremendous season in 2018, that appeared short-lived after a rocky 2019. After trading for Odell Beckham and signing Kareem Hunt, the Browns offense was expected to be one of the most explosive in the league last season.
Instead, Mayfield only threw for 100 more yards in 2019 compared to 2018, with three additional games played. Mayfield also threw seven more interceptions and five fewer touchdowns than in his breakout rookie season.
Was this a case of the sophomore slump? Or is Mayfield not who Browns fans originally thought they drafted? The answer is no, Mayfield was dealt a terrible hand in 2019, and did the best he could.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
- 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target
Expectations were high, and while Mayfield my be slightly to blame for thinking the team would be great without putting in the work. But there were two major factors out of Mayfield’s control that held back the Browns offensive in 2019.
Offensive Line:
For whatever reason John Dorsey never focused on building an offensive line for Baker Mayfield. After playing well at the end of 2018, the Browns put all their eggs in the Greg Robinson basket at left tackle for the season.
Robinson and Chris Hubbard both struggled on the edge and were a major part of Mayfield getting sacked 40 times in 2019. At times Mayfield may have held the ball too long, but pressure on nearly every play never allowed the Browns offense to flow and limited the playbook.
The Receivers:
After trading for Beckham before the season and pairing with Jarvis Landry, many expected the Browns receiving core to be one of the league’s bests. David Njoku showed signs of developing into a dominant tight end, and sixth-round pick Damion Ratley from Texas A&M shined early in camp.
Instead of being dynamic, Beckham played most of the season injured, Njoku only appeared in four games because of injuries, Ratley struggled to catch the ball, and chemistry appeared off between Mayfield and all his receivers. Let’s not forget one of Mayfield’s favorite targets in 2018, Rashard Higgins, was nonexistent after butting heads with Kitchens.
There’s no doubt that Mayfield struggled in 2019, missing high on far too many throws. But there was also a substantial amount of bad luck and drops that never allowed Mayfield to get going.
A fresh start with offensive guru Stefanski will be just what Mayfield needs for 2020. Don’t look for Mayfield to throw for 5,000 yards or 40 touchdowns, but Mayfield will get his completion percentage over 65 percent and throw two to one touchdowns to interceptions. Mayfield is more motivated than ever, and he will use the struggles of last season to allow him to thrive in 2020.