Cleveland Browns: 4 Expectations for Baker Mayfield in 2019

Huge expectations face Cleveland Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield who will try to lead the Browns to heights unknown by generations of fans.

Come September, the Cleveland Browns will embark on a 2019 season loaded with expectations and it’s all because of quarterback Baker Mayfield.

The Browns haven’t been to playoffs since 2002, but the organization hasn’t had a franchise quarterback since Bernie Kosar, who last played for Cleveland in 1993.

The Browns were just 7-8-1 a season ago, but in Mayfield, the fanbase has a reason to believe that just isn’t based on hope. Fans, and really, everyone in the league has seen enough from Mayfield to know that he is a franchise quarterback.

As a rookie, Mayfield surpassed future Hall of Fame Peyton Manning and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson by throwing for 27 touchdowns. It was the most touchdown passes Browns fans have seen in a season ever since Derek Anderson threw 29 in 2007.

The Browns have built up a support system this offseason, giving Mayfield a defense capable of getting to the playoffs. Six of the Browns eight draft picks were spent on defensive players, while general manager John Dorsey also signed Sheldon Richardson in free agency and then traded for Giants’ edge rusher Olivier Vernon.

Offensively, there was the trade to bring in Odell Beckham Jr., in addition to signing Kareem Hunt. Hunt won’t be eligible to play until the end of October, but he looks to making progress as he takes inventory of his life off the field.

These players join an already talented group of skill-position players in Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and David Njoku.

Based off prior performance and the Browns’ roster changes, here’s four things you can expect from Mayfield in 2019.