Cleveland Browns after further review: What we learned from Divisional Round

Mayfield is ‘the guy’

Since 1999, Cleveland Browns fans have just wanted a guy at quarterback. Not the weekly conversation of picking the lesser of two evils to start a game, and not some guy that was on the practice squad for the Detroit Lions just last week. Well, what I have learned from the last five weeks is that Baker Mayfield is that guy.

He is not Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers, but with head coach Kevin Stefanski, he is a quarterback who can take a team all the way. His skill set may not be elite, but his leadership and competitive nature more than make up for it.

Mayfield finished the game 23-of-37 for 204 yards, a touchdown, and one interception. By no means was this a great day, but he gave his team a chance they desperately needed. Yes, Mahomes did get hurt which really opened the door, but the comeback started before his departure.

The big question will be, what does Mayfield want. Does he deserve $35-45 million per year like the top quarterbacks in the league? Likely, no, but he certainly deserves $25-30 million, and truthfully more with the way the market continues to shoot up.

Mayfield was under a lot of heat in Sunday’s loss, and other than one bad throw, he held his ground very well. The biggest thing for me over the last 18 games, he continues to improve decision making and accuracy, and this team fights for him.

The old Browns would have laid down on Sunday and lost by 30. Not these Browns, not the new Browns under Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield.