I first started getting into the NFL by watching a show called Elite 11. The show takes a look at the top 11 high school quarterbacks in the U.S and follows them through a training camp. At the end of the show they name an MVP and the show updates their rankings every episode. Out of this my favourite quarterback was a guy by the name Trevor Lawrence. Trevor was a Clemson commit 5 Star pocket passing style QB. He is currently a freshman at Clemson and is looking to be their first choice QB.
This new found interest in NFL lead me to watching some highlight videos which pointed my in the direction of Sooners Heisman winning QB Baker Mayfield. Baker doesn't fit the mould of a normal QB but through sheer competitiveness and will to win he was a college champion.
Baker continued to impress during the Draft and Pro day and was in talks to go in the first round of the 2017-18 NFL draft.
From here I stumbled upon Bakers own series "Behind Baker" which followed his post college - pre professional transition. Was pretty interesting to get a look into the kind of guy he is and just what makes him such a good player. Then along came the draft and wouldn't you know it Baker went 1st overall and was selected by the Browns.
Johnny Manziel 2.0. There was some speculation that Baker might become the next Mr. Football and loose any talent and direction due to being placed in the Browns franchise. Thankfully this doesn't seem to be the case and following the Hard Knocks series you can see that Baker has his head on straight and that the Browns franchise is on the up and up.
Throughout the entire pre season coach Hue Jackson was adamant that Tyrod Taylor (playoff standard QB from the Bills) was the Browns starting QB, and this was the case until half way through game 3 of the 2018 season. Tyrod went off injured and on came Baker to win the game from 15 points down to take the first victory home to Cleveland since 2016. This prompted Baker to be named starter and lead QB for the Browns going forward.
Unfortunately the Browns got done in overtime by the Pirates in Bakers first game as starter, but hopefully they get the win in rnd 5.
With a record of 1-2-1 my prediction is that they finish the season short of the playoffs with a record of 6-9-1 not great but an improvement for sure.