Cleveland Browns: Perhaps luck has gone their way for once

Maybe just maybe the Cleveland Browns luck has turned positive.

It is Baker Mayfield time for the Cleveland Browns. For some that should be a good thing, others who wanted him to wait, well that may or may not be the case. Regardless, the time is now for Mayfield.

April’s top pick has been impressive in limited time. With that in mind, keep in perspective the talent he has faced in large amounts so far this season: Detroit Lions backups and the New York Jets.

Having Mayfield wait was just a precaution, which is understandable given how Cleveland’s run with quarterbacks has been. On Sunday, Mayfield will be the latest rookie in the past few years who didn’t have much wait time before starting for their respective teams.

With an offense that includes Jarvis Landry and Carlos Hyde, that is perfectly fine. The great thing that some of Cleveland’s past young quarterbacks may not have but Mayfield certainly displays is confidence.

Mayfield will lead Cleveland to more wins than just the one this past Thursday and while his play may not be enough to somehow keep Hue Jackson in 2019, the trajectory is up and staying that way for some time. There is no doubt about it.

After 29 previous quarterbacks, some of whom were Browns draft picks, others free agent signees or trade acquisitions, doesn’t it feel like the Browns luck is starting to turn? Mayfield is not going to be a Brady Quinn, Johnny Manziel, etc., but he is also not flawless.

Mayfield is going to get into situations and games as a whole where he will struggle. It is inevitable, so be prepared. As long as Jackson does not get in his way, he will learn in part due to his play and part learning from Todd Haley. Although the negatives will come the positives will outweigh them.

Now, no matter what happens this season, there will be multiple holes that need to be filled, including offensive line help. While there is some talent Mayfield can work with, just think what he will have in the coming seasons, not to mention the significant cap space Cleveland has too.

Mayfield has the best opportunity to turn the Factory of Sadness into something everyone can just view as part of Cleveland’s past. He has the talent and the mental makeup to do so. Now, Mayfield just has to go out there and execute.

Starting in Week 4, a bright future is ahead for Mayfield and the Browns. There has not been this much excitement and optimism about the future since when, maybe in 199 when Tim Couch was drafted? The changing of the guard is happening and as long as more upgrades are added in the coming seasons, Cleveland will be a force to be reckoned with rather than a team people can laugh at.