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Browns: 3 questions Cleveland will answer against the Chiefs

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Strong safety John Johnson #43 of the Cleveland Browns watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Giants 17-13. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Strong safety John Johnson #43 of the Cleveland Browns watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 22, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Giants 17-13. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Aug 29, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) shown on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) shown on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Can Baker Mayfield start off the season the way he ended last season?

Baker Mayfield‘s performance was very good. Was it elite-level quarterback play good? No, but then again, I think the NFL is very liberal with their use of the term “franchise quarterback”. It’s like the NBA referring to certain guys as “superstars” despite them being unable to pull a team to the next level on their own.

There’s only a handful, maybe six or seven real NBA “superstars” in the league. There are even fewer true “franchise quarterbacks” in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes is one of them, Tom Brady is still one, it’s fair to say Aaron Rodgers but then who else? Right now, Mayfield isn’t among that class of quarterbacks, but he’s a very good one and has the opportunity to thrust himself into that discussion, at least in my mind.

He has the talent to do so, what Mayfield has always lacked was consistency. That was largely not an issue in 2020. He did struggle against the Ravens, sure, but mitigating factors. Then he hurt his ribs and struggled again, due to mitigating circumstances. Then there were the bad weather games, but outside of the first game, there was no game where the weather was tolerable and he was healthy where he truly played poorly.

If he had the season he had in 2020 in 2019, everyone would be ready to anoint him the next great player in the league at his position. The problem is, 2019’s season was filled with just erratic and inconsistent play. So now people are wondering who the real Mayfield is?

More than likely it’s the guy from 2018/2020, with a gunslinger’s arm but a coach’s brain. A cross between Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, though not as slinger-y as Favre or as intuitive as Manning. A hybrid of the two. He’ll be able to showcase all of that against the Chiefs.

At least, that’s what we’re hoping for. If Mayfield goes all out against the Chiefs and dog-walks their defense, he’ll silence critics. Well, most of them, until Colin Cowherd needs to start a new controversy to get people hate-watching his show again.

Next. Browns: 5 practice squad players who will play big minutes this year. dark

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