Cleveland Browns: 5 Browns whose stock plummeted after Rams’ loss

1. Baker Mayfield

It’s starting to get worrisome. Baker Mayfield is playing like he did toward the end of Hue Jackson’s and Todd Haley’s time with the team in 2018.

Mayfield is starting to feel pressure. Yes, the offensive line is to blame for this. You get hit enough, you start to feel footsteps, and it’s obvious Mayfield is because he’s leaving clean pockets too often.

On one frustrating play during the second half, Mayfield left the pocket to scramble to the outside, bringing back Aaron Donald into the play. The result of the play was an imcomplete pass 20 yards out of bounds.

It’s extra frustrating because Mayfield’s bread and butter is supposed to be making plays while scrambling. Except, he’s running backwards this time and the stats don’t lie.

Mayfield’s inaccuracy continues, as he was 18-of-36 for 195 yards against the Rams. For the season, he’s completed just 57 percent of his passes, while throwing three touchdowns against five interceptions. He’s also been sacked 11 times, an especially concerning statistic seeing how he was just sacked five times in the final eight games of 2018.

The Browns seemed onto something during the contest, when they had Mayfield get rid of the ball early. As was often pointed out on the broadcast though, if even had to pull it back for a brief moment, his completion percentage dropped dramatically.

You don’t need to tell a Browns fans how impactful the quarterback position can be, and right now, this is a team fielding a field general who’s failed to complete 60 percent of his passes and he’s given away the ball more than he’s scored.

That usually means losses, and it’s a big reason the Browns are 1-2 heading into Week 4.

Baker’s is still the future, but he’s learning some lessons. Hopefully he adjusts, and comes through it, because if he can, the sky is the limit.