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Where does Baker Mayfield rank all-time among the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks?

By Chad Porto

Jan 17, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs the ball as offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) looks to block against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) during the first half in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) runs the ball as offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) looks to block against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) during the first half in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Completion Percentage (Minimum 998 attempts)

  1. Baker Mayfield – (61.6%)
  2. Tim Couch – (59.8%)
  3. Bernie Kosar – (58.8%)
  4. Tied- Vinny Testaverde/Milt Plum  – (57.9%)
  5. Brian Sipe – (56.5)
  6. Otto Graham  – (55.8%)
  7. Derek Anderson – (52.9)
  8. Bill Nelsen  – (52.5)
  9. Frank Ryan – (51.7)
  10. Mike Phipps – (48.1)

Historical context is important. While you can argue Baker Mayfield wasn’t as good as Tom Brady, I would counter with “who is?” Mayfield is the all-time leader in pass completions in the history of the franchise. No one completed more passes against fewer attempts than Mayfield.

Now, with the same point from the previous page, it’s important to note that the expectation for completion percentage has gone up. Throwing 62% isn’t that impressive anymore. Not with how much more geared towards the offense the game has become.

According to Paul Domowitch of The 33rd Team, the average NFL completion in 2022 was 65.2, whereas 10 years ago, it was 60.1, 20 years ago it was 59.0, and 30 years ago it was 57.4. This is attributed to, in his opinion, the number of screens a team runs to their running back and receivers; plays he refers to simply as “Pct. Of Throws Behind LOS”.

Mayfield is on the bottom half of that list in attempts, hitting only 18th. Yet, he was 3rd in the NFL with 15% of his passes going for 20 yards or more. The fact that Kevin Stefanski didn’t utilize the screen more is proof that Stefanski never put Mayfield in a position to succeed. All of the best quarterbacks threw far more screens than Mayfield did according to Domowitch.

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