Expectations were sky-high for Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield entering 2019 following a terrific debut campaign in which he set a rookie record with 27 touchdowns.
But through the first two games of 2019, Mayfield has actually been underwhelming, as he has thrown for 610 yards, a couple of touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 60.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 73.4.
He was absolutely atrocious in Week 1, going 25-of-38 for 285 yards, a touchdown and three picks in a 43-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans. While he was a bit better in Week 2, completing 19-of-35 throws for 325 yards, a touchdown and an interception during a 23-3 victory over the New York Jets, he simply has not looked all that great.
And it's not all Mayfield's fault.
He has been sacked eight times over the first two weeks, so pass protection hasn't exactly been great. The Browns' defense also didn't do him any favors in the season-opener, and with so many new pieces, it's naturally going to take some time for Cleveland to gel.
Not only that, but the expectations for Mayfield going into his second season were a bit unfair, as people didn't really take into account the dreaded sophomore slump or the fact that quarterbacks typically don't take big jumps from year one to year two.
Unlike last season when no one took the Browns seriously, Cleveland was considered a contender by many heading into 2019. Now, the Browns are going to be getting everyone's best shot, as they learned in their season opener.
Yes, they thumped the Jets, but New York was down to its third-string quarterback and also missing its best defensive player in C.J. Mosley. How many positives can really be gleaned from that victory other than the fact that the Browns got into the win column?
Objectively, Mayfield has looked a bit out of sorts thus far and doesn't appear as if he has gotten comfortable. Odell Beckham Jr.'s monster performance on Monday night aside, the Browns are still feeling things out, and with a tough schedule ahead, it might take some time before we really see this team hit its stride – and that includes Mayfield.
All things considered, Baker Mayfield deserves C for his performance thus far. His stats look pretty bad, but he also does deserve some leeway for the simple fact that this is a very new team with very new, and perhaps unrealistic, expectations.
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