Baker Mayfield & the O-Line

The NFL is cruel. It creates heroes and villains, and can place impossible expectations on those figures. And if you can’t live up to what the league decides you should be, you’re tossed aside. Baker Mayfield is the newest example.

After a fun, exciting, record-breaking rookie season from Mayfield and an offseason of indescribable hype for Year Two, Mayfield disappointed as inaccuracy and a nasty habit for interceptions took over. But Mayfield is still the same player that dazzled as a rookie in 2018, and now with some extra help along the offensive line, he could be set to return to form.

Peak Baker Mayfield typically comes in ideal conditions. With time to throw, he can be deadly. Without it, he can panic and make poor decisions, leading to those 21 interceptions in 2019. But long are the days of Greg Robinson and Chris Hubbard at left and right tackle. Replacing them, two new additions and instant upgrades.

Cleveland will be adding veteran and former All-Pro player Jack Conklin at right tackle, and introducing Jedrick Wills at left tackle, the former Alabama Crimson Tide stand out and Second-Team All-American. 

With Wills and Conklin shoring up the offensive line and joining a strong interior line, the Browns should be able to keep the pressure off of Mayfield enough for him to be dangerous once again. And if the line helps Nick Chubb and the running game too, even better. Opposing defenses dedicating their effort to slowing down the run will only open things up for Mayfield even more, and let him get the ball to his plethora of playmakers.