Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns are turning to Baker Mayfield to end two decades of futility and constant change.
The Oklahoma quarterback was selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft and he immediately becomes the franchise quarterback in waiting.
"For the Cleveland Browns organization, this was the best available player," general manager John Dorsey said. "I just felt this was the best fit for this organization moving forward."
Dorsey kept everyone on the edge of their seats and in suspense leading up to the Draft. Dorsey didn't even use the full 10-minutes allotted to make the pick. With approximately 5 minutes left, Mayfield answered his phone, which was broadcast on his official Instagram live feed.
"Yes, sir, let's go. I'm ready, let's get it," Mayfield could be heard saying during the live broadcast.
Dorsey and the Browns decided the pick would be Mayfield on Monday.
"I think Baker, he really is a neat kid," Dorsey said. "He's humble. Intellectually, he's a smart guy. He loves the game of football. He loves to study, loves to play. He was like that in high school, was like that in college and he's gonna be that way in the NFL."
In 3 seasons for the Sooners, Mayfield was electrifying on the field as he lit up the box score week after week after week. He threw for 12,292 yards while completing 69.8 percent of his passes with a 119-21 touchdown to interception ratio.
"I could never have dreamed for a better situation for me," Mayfield told 92.3 The Fan. "A rough journey with a lot of ups and downs, but a great one. I can't wait to get to Cleveland and be a part of the Dawg Pound."
Dorsey has spoken at length about the ability to win being one of the criteria he desired in his future quarterback. Mayfield went 34-6 as a starter for Oklahoma.
Mayfield is the first quarterback the Browns have selected with the first pick in the draft since Tim Couch in 1999. He is the 11th quarterback drafted by the franchise since 1999 and the fifth in the first round of the draft.
"Tremendous accuracy. The guy was the best college quarterback this year, by far, in our opinion," head coach Hue Jackson said. "Digging into everything about Baker, we felt very comfortable this was the guy for us."
It marks the third straight year the Browns have selected a QB in the draft and the sixth time since 2010.
On the field, Mayfield checked every box but height. Off of it there were serious questions.
The Browns did an extensive background check on Mayfield and are comfortable that the alcohol-related arrest on Feb. 25, 2017 in which he was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, fleeing and resisting arrest. He reached a plea agreement that cost him $460 in fines and court costs plus $483 in restitution along with 35 hours of community serve and an alcohol training program.
"My faith says every man may deserve a second chance," Dorsey said. "Young men do certain things, and they'll learn from that. I like the guy, he's very mature, he's very smart. I have no problems with a young man understanding mistakes he made."
Mayfield has put that behind him and now he's ready to get to work.
"I love competing, I love winning and, more importantly, I hate losing," Mayfield said.
Dorsey chose mayfield over USC quarterback Sam Darnold, Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen and UCLA's Josh Rosen.
The New York Jets selected Darnold with the third pick after making a trade with Indianapolis last month, Buffalo swapped the 12th overall pick and a pair of second rounders with Tampa Bay for the right to move up to seventh and select Allen and Arizona traded up to select Rosen 10th overall.
