Hue Jackson goes full Browns-mode while talking about Baker Mayfield
In the latest case of classic Browns behavior, Hue Jackson has some, uh, interesting opinions on Baker Mayfield.
The owners of two of the first four picks in April’s draft, the Cleveland Browns are in the driver’s seat right. They could trade the No. 1 overall pick, or stay put and take whoever they want (Sam Darnold?). But based on their history, even with a new front office regime led by a credible general manager in John Dorsey, skepticism about their draft decisions will reign until some of their picks pan out.
The Browns are of course taking a close look at the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and pre-draft visits are going on now. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield is among them, even if it’s highly unlikely he’ll go first overall.
Mayfield made a visit to the Browns’ facility recently, and apparently made a pretty good impression on head coach Hue Jackson. ESPN’s Tony Grossi passed along Jackson’s specific, slightly troubling words.
Hue Jackson on Baker Mayfield: I feel like he's a Pied Piper of Oklahoma football. When he walked into the bldg, he made this sound - kind of went hee hee -- & all the players in the bldg started going hee hee and here we go. Most unbelievable thing I've ever seen. .
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) March 27, 2018
This characterization of Mayfield walking into the building, and the player reaction to him, is … undeniably Browns. What exactly it means is hard to decipher, but it doesn’t seem especially meaningful as an evaluation of Mayfield as a player, person or potential team leader.
Only the Browns, who willingly passed on Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson in each of the last two drafts based on questionable assessment measures, could mess up having their pick of a deep class of quarterbacks this year. And that leaves aside having a potential second shot at it with the fourth overall pick, which could put Mayfield on their radar.
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No matter what, with Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, Johnny Manziel and even DeShone Kizer as examples, everyone will think the Browns drafted the wrong quarterback again this year. Jackson’s childish-looking words about Mayfield will not alter that narrative.