Cleveland Browns: Top 20 All-Time first-round draft picks

Cleveland Browns top first-round draft picks All-Time No. 6: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

It was a bit of a surprise when the Cleveland Browns announced Baker Mayfield as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft but it shouldn’t have been. Sam Darnold seemed to be the player most scouting pundits saw going first overall but all indications pointed to former GM John Dorsey being in love with Baker Mayfield’s game.

Now with three seasons under his belt, Mayfield has entrenched himself as the future of the franchise as he actually has a winning record of 23-22 as a starter. That might not seem like much but for a team that’s had as many struggles as they have, it’s a huge start. Not only that but he also did this despite the fact that he’s had four head coaches in three seasons and 2021 will be the first time he enters Week 1 with the same coach from the previous campaign.

Even with that uncertainty around him, Mayfield is already sixth all-time in passing yards for Cleveland with 11,115 yards. He’s also fifth with 75 touchdown passes.

Throw in the fact that he led them to their first playoff win since returning to the NFL in 1999 — against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers nonetheless — and we have a bonafide star in the making.

Ahead of the 2020 season, Mayfield had his fifth-year option picked up meaning he will be with the team through the 2022 season. Don’t be surprised to see him take another huge step forward now that he has some continuity, which should lead to a massive extension for him.