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The 2018 rookie quarterback is one of our first season., And we look at the depth of the top-10 picks has performed.
The last few quarterback draft classes have a new era of NFL passing efficiency. Offenses have exploded as rules, playmakers, and quarterbacks have spread defenses to the brink of their capabilities.
The 2018 class has already seen the top-four quarterbacks named after a starter, and the fifth, Lamar Jackson, figures to be a starter in the next year or two. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen have been nominated for the future.
It's easier for a quarterback than ever before. Efficiency numbers are through the roof, but it still takes a lot of talent to score touchdowns instead of field goals in the red zone. That's where each of these rookies will have their craft to prove worthy of their future years.
After reviewing every throw of each of the top-four rookies, it's time to look at each other. As rookies, the book is far from written, but their strengths and areas to be improved. How they evolve from now can define their career success.
Going in sequential draft order, we'll highlight what's to like, what needs improvement, and their outlook moving forward based on what is known today. Jackson will not behaving like he has not played meaningful snaps at quarterback yet.
Baker Mayfield
What's to like:
The moxie, the attitude, and the intangibles that he has to walk to win the Heisman Trophy and be the first walk-on to be selected first overall, have been on display at times throughout his first six career games. His best two performances were his first two, as he electrified an anemic Browns offense.
Even if everything has crumbled around him, Mayfield's not fallen into the abyss of turnover-prone football that's plagued the Cleveland Browns' quarterback position since 1999. A good number of his mistakes can be tied to being a rookie playing a bad team, an unfortunate side effect of being a No. 1 overall pick.
Mayfield's willingness to throw in a receiver and ability to react quickly to Oklahoma. The Browns' body has been a shell of what it had been to work and Josh Gordon's trade, and that was a limiting factor in evaluation. The developmental players used to be so inconsistent at helping Mayfield by finishing catches and creating post-wrestling.
He's been awesome at recognizing Cover 2 drops pre-snap, and has excelled taking advantage of corner and seam routes. Mayfield's was quick to throw out-breaking roads in anticipation of his winning man's matchup. It does not always work because it's not really open to the market, but it's not fully integrated into the phase, which is incredibly important for its future.
His arm has looked good and has a more fully clean pockets. He can clearly drive the ball up to intermediate distances when given the platform to generate velocity from his torso.
He's smart and generally self-aware of his skill set. He rarely tries to do too much and overextends his physical capabilities. His playmaking on extended plays and ability to deliver accurate passes on the move to be a building block.
Where to improve:
It was expected that Mayfield would have a drop-off in the game and playmakers from Oklahoma. The Sooners were elite in both, and the Browns would not be able to replicate that situation related to their parity at the NFL level.
For example, the Browns' offensive duo has been subpar and plays submarine plays. Their struggles led to the Browns shrinking the playbook into more dump off passes than intermediate and deep concepts. And as mentioned earlier, the receivers and tight ends have struggled finishing catches.
Isolating Mayfield, some of his bad clothes have been exploited in the last month of the game. His feet are choppy and uncomfortable in clean pockets, it's been on display at Oklahoma but rarely cost him.
There are times when he needs to step into the pocket to buy time. It makes the offensive line look worse, but it's more on Mayfield to be decisive and calm in the pocket.
Another area for improvement is his anticipation against man coverage. While much more comfortable identifying his mismatches against zone, Like his final game at Oklahoma against Georgia, Mayfield has been rejected.
That mindset helps limit turnovers, and is not meant as a blanket criticism. Picking and choosing when to be aggressive is important. But it has been a major factor in why the Browns' offense has not been able to be six on the board in the red zone, so it must improve.
Outlook:
Things change quickly in the NFL. Hue Jackson: The Browns had originally looked like a promising landing for Mayfield. Now that Jackson and Todd Haley are gone, the Browns may be a great long-term fit for Mayfield.
But the receiving body needs help, and a new scheme will make it happen next year. There's no guarantee things will get better, so Mayfield must improve where he can.
His arm strength is inconsistent and dependent on how confident he is in the pocket. He's flinging many throws to the sideline because he could not put everything into them. Tightening up his release and calming his mind while in the pocket may give the boost he needs here.
Mayfield's play this year reminds me of Carson's Wentz 2016 season in a few ways. There are some flashes, but much more inconsistency and dependency on great play around him. If Jimmy Haslem upgrades the coaching staff and John Dorsey continues to inject talent into the roster, there's no reason to think Mayfield will not take steps forward.
The biggest question Can Mayfield be an elite quarterback? We were not going to find that answer year 1 regardless of his development.
We need to see when we are better pressured, better touch on deep passes, and more If he does, his play will take a big jump forward.
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