The Cleveland Browns haven't had the season they expected and the majority of the blame has been placed on Baker Mayfield. As unpopular as it may be, it's time to slow down with the criticism on Mayfield.
When the Browns acquired Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason, many people were crowning Cleveland as contenders in the AFC. On top of that, everyone was anticipating Mayfield to have an MVP caliber season with the number of weapons he was given.
Instead, the second-year quarterback struggled at the beginning of the season and Cleveland's expectations were lowered. In his first seven starts, Mayfield had 1,690 yards, six touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
At the same time, the Browns went 2-5, which prompted everyone to scrutinize the confident quarterback. While he has taken the brunt of the blame, Mayfield hasn't been the only reason why the Browns haven't had a successful season.
Despite the slow start, the first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is starting to get back to his standards in recent weeks. Since Week 9, Mayfield has totaled 1,227 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Last week, Mayfield faltered in a crucial game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the contest, Mayfield threw for 196 yards, one touchdown, and had two turnovers. As a result, the media reverted back to shifting the blame to the quarterback's play on the field.
Yes, Mayfield has to improve his decision-making and learn to control his emotions on and off the field. But at the same time, Freddie Kitchens hasn't done Mayfield any favors in his first year as head coach.
When the Browns were having success in 2018, Kitchens was dialing up plays that got the ball out of Mayfield's hands quick. Now, this season, with a worse offensive line, Kitchens has decided to incorporate more plays that involve Mayfield holding onto the ball longer.
Most people forget that in the Beckham Jr. trade, Cleveland sent Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants. By doing so, the offensive line for the Browns has been in flux throughout the season.
The Los Angeles Rams have shown this season that an entire offense can falter when the offensive line is constantly changing. In addition, Mayfield is only in his second season in the NFL and has plenty of room for growth.
While the expectations for Cleveland should be tempered, Mayfield is still a talented quarterback who has a ton of potential. Once the regular season concludes, the chatter of Mayfield being an overrated quarterback will begin to make its rounds.
But considering the circumstances, it's extremely unfair to heavily criticize Mayfield for the Browns' deficiencies in 2019.
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