If Odell Beckham, Jr.'s assessment of his new quarterback is any indication of what's to come both this season and going forward, the Cleveland Browns will be competing for championships sooner rather than later. In an interview with Cam Wolf of GQ, Beckham lavished praise on Browns franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield, comparing him to an all-time great and predicting the rising sophomore is on his way to the Hall of Fame.
“I would say he's next, but I feel like he's now,” he said of Mayfield. “He's Brett Favre—he's going to be a Hall of Famer.”
Indeed, Mayfield has an extremely bright future ahead of him. The comparison to Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre makes sense given his ability to extend plays and create passing windows only he can see, too.
But it's Beckham's assessment of Mayfield's ability right now that's most noteworthy here. Mayfield, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, threw for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while appearing in 14 games last season. He took over for Tyrod Taylor as a starter in Week 4, leading the Browns, winless in 2017, to a 6-7 record overall and wins in five of their last seven games.
Needless to say, Mayfield has all the makings of an All-Pro performer – perhaps as soon as this season. The presence of a receiver the caliber of Beckham will only speed up his development, as will the acquisitions of stud defenders like Olivier Vernon and Sheldron Richardson.
Obviously, there's a lot of hype about Cleveland after an offseason marked by several splashy additions. If Mayfield does as expected and builds on his standout rookie year, though, the Browns' success will be tied to him more than anyone else on the roster.
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