Oklahoma football: Top 5 Sooners in the NFL in 2020

1. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns quarterback

If you want an example of someone who fought through a slump or fought through adversity, Baker Mayfield is a phenomenal example.

Mayfield did not have the 2019 season that was expected out of him, his touchdown-to-interception ratio was almost even, and he did not look like the Heisman Trophy winner he was at Oklahoma.

This past season was the chapter in Mayfield’s career where he overcame the dreaded sophomore slump that seemed to avoid Kyler Murray. Mayfield more than halved his interceptions, throwing just eight all season while passing for 3,563 yards and 26 touchdowns in a strong third NFL season.

While Murray may have had a better season than Mayfield statistically, making the playoffs and leading your team to victories is an important part of being a franchise quarterback, and with more experience under his belt and playmakers at his disposal, Mayfield was able to get that done.

After losing his best receiver in Odell Beckham, Jr, Mayfield fought through that adversity and was able to continue to lead the Browns to wins despite this major loss early in the season.

A key part of Mayfield’s season was breaking the playoff drought that has plagued the Cleveland Browns seeming forever. Browns’ fans have finally found their guy that can give them consistent play from the quarterback spot which is something they have greatly struggled with as all NFL fans know.

Before being drafted by Cleveland, Mayfield said that if there was anybody that could turn the franchise around, it was him, and so far he his holding up his end of the bargain. This despite playing for three different head coaches in his three seasons in Cleveland.

The Browns not only made the postseason, they even managed to win a playoff game and were a few plays away from defeating the eventual AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

One person that can be credited with this level of success would be Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski. The first-year head coach in Cleveland put together an offense that was a good fit to Mayfield’s skills and strengths and limited the factors that led to mistakes.

The critics still love to attack Mayfield at any possible moment they get, but in the second half of 2020, there was not much to criticize him on as the Browns did plenty of winning during that period.

A four-touchdown performance against the Tennessee Titans was a sign that he had truly turned the tide as a starting NFL quarterback, and that things were finally beginning to click in this offense.

Mayfield will look to continue this momentum heading into a crucial fourth season as he nears the end of his rookie contract and aspires to put himself in the best possible position for a new deal.

Oklahoma has put many stars into the NFL, and these five players have been the newest ones to spread their OU DNA from the college level to the NFL.