Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off of a phenomenal rookie campaign in which he threw for 3,725 yards and a rookie record 27 touchdowns, but now, he is entering a 2019 season full of expectations.
After adding pieces such as Odell Beckham Jr., Kareem Hunt, Sheldon Richardson and Olivier Vernon this offseason, the Browns are expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL this year, and with those expectations comes heavy pressure.
Mayfield seems built to handle that type of responsibility, as he has a tough, gritty attitude that you want out of your quarterback, but is he ready to lead a team this early in his career, and what does he need to do to take that next step?
Well, the main thing he needs to do is cut down on turnovers.
It may seem like nitpicking to get on a first-year quarterback for throwing 14 picks, because that really isn't bad at all for a rookie, but with the Browns now looking to win a Super Bowl, the learning curve has changed for Mayfield, and fast.
Now, Mayfield can no longer afford to try and fit passes into tight windows as often as he did in 2018, as just one turnover could end up having a cataclysmic effect on Cleveland's entire season.
You know how the NFL works. In such a short season, every down counts, so the margin for error is incredibly slim.
Mayfield may have a strong arm, but just because you have a good arm does not mean you have to play recklessly, and that is what Mayfield needs to learn entering his second season.
In Mayfield's defense, he completed 63.8 percent of his passes this past season, which is an incredible number for a rookie quarterback, but the turnovers do need to dip.
Also, Mayfield has to be prepared to see the opponent's best going into 2019.
Let's be real: opposing teams did not take the Browns all that seriously this past year given their history, but now, there is a target on Cleveland's back, and you can bet that defensive players all around the league—particularly in the AFC North—watched plenty of film on Mayfield this offseason and now know what to expect from the signal-caller in his second season.
It's going to be up to Mayfield to make the necessary adjustments throughout the season in order to counteract the adjustments that defenses will be making for him.
Don't think for a second that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens aren't scoffing at the notion that the Browns should win the division. You can bet that those teams will be ready to smack Cleveland in the mouth, and Mayfield needs to understand what's coming.
It may sound cliche, but expectations completely change things. There wasn't much pressure on Mayfield during his rookie campaign. No one expected the Browns to even win the seven games that they did; let alone contend for a playoff spot or, even more, a Super Bowl.
Now that those expectations have been levied on Cleveland, the rest of the league will follow suit and will take every down against the Browns seriously rather than the grain of salt with which they did this past year.
Basically, Mayfield has to brace himself for what's coming.
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