Browns: 3 reasons to wait on signing Baker Mayfield to a new deal
By Chad Porto
He’s had three very different seasons
Baker Mayfield has had three very different seasons, and maybe part of the reason is the four head coaches he’s had. Sure. That tracks, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Mayfield has shown to be radically inconsistent from year to year.
The 2018 season saw Mayfield struggle at times with some inconsistency and trying to do too much but overall he had a really strong campaign and one that saw him post a 6-7 record. He threw 64% on his completions for 3,700+ yards, with 27 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions.
The 2019 season was a mess, and Mayfield didn’t benefit from the chaos that came with Freddie Kitchens. Just a 59% mark for completions, all while being down to 22 touchdowns, and forcing more passes to see Mayfield hit 21 interceptions. He did hit a career-high in yards with over 3,800 on the year but it’s not enough when you’re 6-10.
Then 2020 came around, and despite injuries, inconsistent play from his pass-catchers, and the uncertainty that COVID-19 brought with it, Mayfield had his best year as a pro, completing 63% of passes, for over 3,500 yards. All while tossing 26 touchdowns and a career-low eight interceptions.
So which Mayfield is the real Mayfield?
Guess we’ll all find out together when the Browns take the field for the 2021 season.