The elephant in the room is whether Dorsey's magic can continue for a franchise that could be described as a poor illusion of a football team for two decades. Sorting through the misdirection and understanding who Dorsey is eyeing has become an impossible task in this week before the draft. The NFL Draft is a documented crapshoot, and this crop of quarterbacks inspires as much confidence as the 2016 Republican presidential candidates did during the early stages of primary season.
Three names are most frequently brought up, though. Josh Allen, the man best known for running like Mose Schrute and most popularly supported at draftjoshallen.com in a tongue in cheek fashion. Sam Darnold, the man best known for being a doppelganger for the villain in The Incredibles and falling flat on his face in his final collegiate game.
Baker Mayfield, however, is reportedly making a strong push as we enter the final turn. The man best known for... actually, let's go through what you may know him for:
-Winning the Heisman trophy. We know that's the strongest predictor of success in the NFL.
-Being so slept on he had to walk on at two different programs in the Big 12. He proceeded to win the starting job at both schools over entrenched starters.
-Setting a record for passing efficiency. Then breaking his own record during his senior year.
-Torching an elite SEC defense to the tune of 48 points in his final collegiate game.
-Escaping a collapsing pocket far more effectively than eluding the Fayetteville Police Department.
-Delivering an immaculate performance, capped by dazzling showmanship, in a win in Ohio Stadium that gave him one more win in the Buckeye State than the Browns have accumulated in the last year.
With all due respect to John Dorsey, and I do mean all due respect, this should be an easy choice. Josh Allen can throw a ball across Lake Erie to Canada. Baker Mayfield can actually throw an out route on third and seven. Sam Darnold comes from the program that grooms NFL quarterbacks and the ideal offensive scheme. Baker Mayfield comes from a decent program himself and looks poised to thrive in the new era of positionless football.
The marriage between Mayfield and the Browns crafts the most fun narrative, too. Sure, the list of potentially great happily ever afters for this team is long. Dublin, Ohio legend Brady Quinn wasn't the heroic protagonist to save the team. Northeast Ohio's own Charlie Frye couldn't quite follow in LeBron James' footsteps to deliver Cleveland a championship. Drake's favorite athlete Johnny Manziel couldn't ever find his rhythm. Disgraced baseball star Brandon Weeden looking for redemption ended up being another erroneous selection. Yet the idea of a historically scoffed at quarterback turning around a historically laughed at team with his lunch pail work ethic? There could be something there.
Mayfield has off the field demons and on the field question marks. He's arrogant, brash, and cocksure. He goes looking for fights with unnecessary targets for no reasons. But a new team executive's statistical model, QBASE, rates him as the fourth best quarterback prospect since 1997. His rising stock as we enter crunch time seems like the latest evidence his performance eventually speaks for itself, rather than any sort of media driven hype to create a smokescreen for some team's general manager. He'd be the closest fit to the team's presumed starter, Tyrod Taylor.
Most importantly, passing on Baker Mayfield would only refuel his fiery persona. Watching the NFL get torched by Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson on a weekly basis last season wasn't fun. This fate likely awaits Browns fans for years to come.The Browns play the Giants (in the preseason), Jets, Broncos, and Bills next year, all who happen to be in the market for a quarterback and other possible landing spots for Mayfield. Seems like a sign to snag the man and save more pain in the short and long term.
Bring Baker to Believeland. Grab Saquon Barkley or Bradley Chubb. Maybe, just maybe, win a couple games.
J. Nave
