Cleveland Browns: 5 Bold Predictions for the 2018 NFL Season

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Baker Mayfield Will Redshirt in 2018

From the front office to the coaching staff, the Cleveland Browns have been adamant this offseason that Tyrod Taylor will be the starting quarterback to begin the year. That means No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield will be backing up Taylor barring an unforeseen injury, or the Browns falling out of playoff contention.

This tactic is not anything new to Browns GM John Dorsey. Dorsey was part of the Green Bay front office that made Aaron Rodgers sit behind Brett Favre for multiple years before handing over the reins of the franchise. He also drafted Patrick Mahomes in the first round of 2017 while GM of the Kansas City Chiefs, who sat behind Alex Smith that entire season. Dorsey has no problem being patient with his young quarterbacks when he has a bridge in place.

If Taylor were to struggle mightily to start the year, expect Mayfield to get his shot. According to PFF’s Sam Monson, the Oklahoma product had the best passer rating of any quarterback in this year’s class, whether from a clean pocket (143.8) or under pressure (111.6). Those numbers aren’t solely a product of Oklahoma’s spread offense either. Mayfield also had the best grade of any college quarterback on “NFL throws,” according to Monson, and only seven quarterbacks in the country had more such pass attempts in 2017.

Giving a player with this much talent the opportunity to learn from a veteran quarterback and not be thrust into the NFL fire should excite Browns fans about the future. Cleveland has infused their roster with actual talent that should set up either quarterback with enough weapons to be successful. Taylor has an edge experience wise, but Mayfield’s talent will always be swirling around the quarterback conversation as the season goes along. The Browns have time to develop Mayfield and I expect Dorsey to have him learning from the sideline this season.

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