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Cleveland Browns: 5 rookies who will start in 2018

By Nick Dudukovich

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Nick Chubb #27 of the Georgia Bulldogs carries for a 45 yard gain in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Nick Chubb #27 of the Georgia Bulldogs carries for a 45 yard gain in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks past a video board displaying an image of Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma after he was picked
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks past a video board displaying an image of Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma after he was picked /

4. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

A lot of fans don’t want to read this, but Baker Mayfield will start at some point for the Browns in 2018.

No, it’s not some crazy-eyed prediction, it’s the fact that the Browns made the most decorated quarterback in the draft class the No. 1 pick.

Plus, he’s shown an eagerness to start. Remember what he said about possibly sitting behind Eli Manning if he would have been picked by the Giants?

Baker’s going to want to start. It’s just a matter of time. Heck, Fox’s Troy Aikman already has him penciled in as the Week 1 starter even though Tyrod Taylor‘s been named the guy. Former Browns’ GM and current Sirius XM analyst Phil Savage predicted Oct. 10.

Hue Jackson said he doesn’t want to rush Mayfield in, and that’s understandable. Most of his snaps were out of the shotgun at Oklahoma, but the door has been left open.

"“Baker’s going to compete and however that unfolds it unfolds, but right now Tyrod is the starter,” via Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer."

There’s no reason to believe Mayfield won’t soar up the depth chart, passing up Drew Stanton to become No. 2 on the depth chart by Week 1.

He really impressed the Browns with his play recollection and work on the white board, which is rumored to be what pushed him ahead of Sam Darnold.

Cabot also wrote this regarding the possibility of unseating Taylor.

":One NFL coach told cleveland.com that they had Mayfield first on the board among QBs. He also felt Mayfield would come in and beat out their veteran quarterback — that it would be hard to keep him on the bench for long, but they would’ve embraced the fierce competition that would’ve ensued,” she wrote."

We should be worried. It’s one thing for Mayfield to start toward the end of a lost season, but there’s absolutely no reason to start him this season.

Sam Darnold and Josh Allen would’ve probably signed off on that plan. Mayfield seems on board for now, but for how much longer.

Browns fans now how the team can go through quarterbacks. Mayfield, for better or for worse, will start this season.

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