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The Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to ultimately be their franchise quarterback. In the meantime, former Buffalo Bills signal-caller Tyrod Taylor will start and serve as Mayfield's mentor.
Taylor, who was acquired by Cleveland for a third-round pick prior to the draft, sat behind Joe Flacco with the Baltimore Ravens for four years before starting 44 games (one playoff) over three years in Buffalo. While the Virginia Tech product flashed promise throughout his tenure with the Bills, the franchise never truly bought into him as the long-term answer under center.
With one-year left on his contract, Taylor can prove that he deserves that recognition moving beyond the 2018 season, whether it be in Cleveland or else where. New Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley believes he'll do exactly that, per Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan:
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Dianna Russini tells Bull and Fox Browns OC Todd Haley told her Tyrod Taylor “is going to prove this year’s he’s not just a placeholder. He’s a long-term QB.”
There are a few ways Haley's comment can be interpreted. Perhaps he's solely intending to compliment his new starting quarterback and express confidence in him as he leads a franchise that has only won one game over the past two seasons. It can also be taken as a challenge to Mayfield, humbling the first overall pick by making it clear he still has to earn the starting job and continue to earn it each day he plays in the league.
Either way, it's clear Mayfield is going to at least start the season behind Taylor and will have to elevate his game to another level, especially mentally, before taking over the reins of Cleveland's offense.
