Browns: 5 best offensive players of the regular season

1. Baker Mayfield

For someone people were wanting to cut after Week 1, Baker Mayfield had a year and then some. Thought to be a kicker by many fans, as critics kept moving the goalposts for what would constitute a good season worth keeping him, Mayfield rose up to meet every expectation thrust upon him. Play well? Check. Don’t commit turnovers? Check. Play well against great defenses? Check. Have a winning season? Check. Beat the Steelers and/or Ravens? Check. Make the playoffs? Check.

Win in the playoffs? Check.

Mayfield had a great year in 2020. He completed 63% of his passes, he’s thrown for at least 3,500 yards in his third straight season, all while adding 26 touchdowns during the regular season. He even answered his turnover issue from last year by only throwing eight interceptions. He also joins Brian Sipe as the only Browns quarterback ever to have back-to-back-to-back seasons of 20+ touchdowns.

Mayfield has met and passed every “test” that the media kept giving to him. He played within the system, he adapted well to Kevin Stefanski’s system, he became the perfect teammate, he avoided making headlines (for the most part) and he won.

While there will still be some Mayfield detractors, Mayfield has done everything he had to do to warrant not just a fifth-year option but also a new contract.