Baker Mayfield selected No. 1 overall by Browns in 2018 NFL Draft
By Chip Rouse
Baker Mayfield confidently proclaimed he wouldn’t go any later than No. 5 in the NFL Draft. Correction: He didn’t go any later than No. 1.
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Perception became reality on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas, when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell advanced to the podium to announce that the Cleveland Browns had selected the former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Only Mayfield was not at AT&T Stadium in Arlington to don the Cleveland Browns cap and engage in the ceremonial handshake with the commissioner. He was some 190 miles away, at home with his family in Austin, Texas, when the news became official.
Although the Browns had kept their decision regarding the No. 1 overall pick in the draft very close to the vest right up to the point that Goodell made the formal announcement it had been widely rumored that they were going to select a quarterback. In recent weeks, it had been rumored that they were favoring Wyoming’s Josh Allen. Then the name of Sam Darnold out of USC started showing up with some frequency in mock drafts around the country.
In the past week leading up to the draft, reports were coming out that Browns’ general manager John Dorsey and his draft team were going to choose between Allen and Mayfield. In the last two days, the word coming from NFL insiders and draft experts was that Mayfield was going to be Cleveland’s choice.
Mayfield’s journey from two-time walk-on to Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft is a testament to the underdog and the player who strongly believes in himself and just needs the opportunity to show what he can do.
Mayfield’s accomplishments in his three years as the starting quarterback for Oklahoma have been well documented. The two-time First-Team All-American and two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year was 34-6 as the Sooner quarterback, and twice led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff.
“Baker’s a special player,” said OU head coach Lincoln Riley in a draft preview article published on the OU athletic website.
"“Physically, the guy has a huge arm and can make every throw. He can throw with power, he can throw with touch, he can change arm angles, can throw with people in his face, throw well on the run.“He’s so creative with the way he can deliver the ball,” Riley said, “and I love that about him.”"
Mayfield becomes the fourth Oklahoma player to be selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft, joining Lee Roy Selmon (1976), Billy Sims (1980) and Sam Bradford (2010). Brian Bosworth was also a No. 1 pick in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft.
The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner will now shoulder the responsibility for accomplishing what several other highly rated quarterbacks coming out of college were unable to do: turning around a Cleveland NFL franchise that has not been to an NFL playoff game in 18 seasons.
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The Browns would be well advised to make sure Mayfield knows about those who have gone before him and failed. He always seems to play better when he has something to prove.