The returns are obviously still very early. But according to coach Hue Jackson, the Browns are liking what they’re seeing from Baker Mayfield.
Speaking to Patrick Maks of Clevelandbrowns.com, Jackson praised 2018’s No. 1 overall pick for how well he gets the game.
“I think that he’s doing good. The game isn’t too big for him. He demonstrates the ability to throw the ball and make decisions with the ball in his hands and learning our system,” Jackson said of Mayfield. “I think he’s on schedule, but is he a finished product? No, he’s not supposed to be, neither. He’s done everything we have asked him to do. There’s still a lot of work to do, a lot of work ahead of him. I think that he gets that and I think that he’s excited about that.”
There are two ways to look at this.
The more cynical approach is that it’s hard to get too excited about Mayfield (or any player) until we see them in an NFL game. We’re not even in training camp yet. So, there’s a long way to go.
But while that’s true, busts frequently show signs of being a bust well before they step on the field. If nothing else, Mayfield is not doing that.
Clearly, we have a long way to go before we can call Mayfield a true franchise quarterback. But the Browns and their fans have been looking for nearly any positives — especially from that position — for decades now. This is clearly something to be optimistic about going forward.
Just don’t expect Jackson to start Mayfield, any time soon.