6 Cleveland Browns whose stock is down at 2021 Bye Week

1. Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield

The expectation was that Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield would thrive in a second year under Kevin Stefanski after leading the team to playoffs last season.

The opposite has happened. Mayfield’s injured, yet the front office deems his healthy enough to not only start, but to win games.

If you’re going to publicly declare that, which the Browns have done, you can’t use it as a crutch.

Now, there’s a case to be made Mayfield is being failed by his receivers, who, seemingly every game, drop a key pass, which stalls a drive.

However, if your expectation is that the quarterback is to overcome the bad odors emanating elsewhere on the team, Mayfield hasn’t lived up to expectations. He’s 0-4 with the Browns trailing and the ball in his hands for a final drive.

I’ve made it well known, I’m rooting for Baker, but you’ll never convince me his stock isn’t down. The idea of $40 million per season was a slam dunk in April. Now, whomever led the charge not to make an offer looks like a genius.

Through 11 games, Mayfield has just 11 touchdowns, but only six interceptions. While his 89.9 QB rating is significantly better than in was in the Freddie Kitchens year of 2019 (78.8), his QBR (35.8) is in the tank, compared to then (54.4).

I’m rooting for Mayfield, because like you, I don’t want to go through another quarterback search. He and Stefanski unearthed a miracle at the Bye last season. Now, they’re in need of another.