Cleveland Browns believe Baker Mayfield needs to slim down

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Cleveland Browns want Baker Mayfield to focus on his health and fitness level for the 2020 season

Baker Mayfield isn’t fat by any stretch of the imagination but the Cleveland Browns are wanting him to focus on his diet and nutrition in order to make him quicker in the 2020 season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Browns seem steadfast on the idea that some of Mayfield’s issues last year were due to footwork, and getting into better shape could help him with his overall quickness.

Rapoport goes on to say that the idea is that Mayfield will also be faster, which certainly can’t hurt the Browns. Especially if the offensive line isn’t much improved. Then again, it’s fair to say Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen would have been running for their lives last year. Mayfield is clearly one of the better quarterbacks in Browns history already, so anything to help him get even better should be seen as a good thing.

Mayfield took a beating last year, sacked 40 times last year alone. Compared to his rookie season, where he was only sacked 25 times, and it’s obvious why Mayfield may need to be quicker and leaner this year. Mayfield, according to Rapoport, bulked up before the 2019 season, which one could argue ended up hurting his mobility some. Though in hindsight it probably kept him healthy as he was eating a steady diet of dirt and turf throughout the year.

Here’s hoping that a leaner Mayfield will be able to avoid some of the follies he stumbled through in 2019 and that the offensive line is better at protecting him so he doesn’t feel the need to bulk up again.