Baker Mayfield is the best quarterback in the AFC North
By Sam Penix
![Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 23](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F15317716-850x560-2f5362018c395c3b8e6a53b2e4eb15cfb9c836d4f7a369172b4c4c000468da87.jpg "Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns 23")
1. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield was electric as a rookie in 2018, setting the rookie touchdown passing record with 27 scores in only 13.5 games. Big things were expected out of him in 2019, especially with Odell Beckham Jr. to throw to, but things didn’t go according to plan. Six games and one quarter into the 2020 campaign, and things looked even worse. There were legitimate questions about Mayfield’s future in Cleveland, and potential replacements were floated.
And then, something happened. Since the first quarter of the Week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Mayfield has looked like a completely different player. He’s thrown just one interception since then, and has led the Browns to a 5-2 record in that span. For the first part of the season, the Browns were winning with (and perhaps in spite of Mayfield).
Now, they’re winning (and almost winning, as was the case on Monday) because of him. He’s had the two best games of his NFL career this season, showing a level of play that he hadn’t prior to 2020. Mayfield’s ceiling has proven to be higher than previously indicated, and it’s clear he’s becoming more and more comfortable under Kevin Stefanski and Alex Van Pelt in an offensive scheme he’s never played in before, after having essentially zero offseason.
Next. Cleveland Browns: Despite loss, Baker Mayfield proved himself. dark
Cleveland is 9-4, and Mayfield is playing like a top-10 (and perhaps top-five, depending on who you ask) quarterback. The same cannot be said for any of the others in the division. Even with their disappointing loss to the Ravens, the Browns are on an upwards trajectory, and the future has truly never been brighter for this team. That’s thanks to franchise QB Baker Mayfield.