Baker Mayfield confident, ready to play if asked

Polarizing Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield may not be the Browns Week 1 starter, but he says he’s confident and ready to play if asked.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has established Tyrod Taylor as the Browns starting quarterback. But Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has shown he’s ready to play if called upon.

The No. 1  pick in the 2018 NFL Draft pick finished his preseason campaign going 35-for-61 passing, totaling 501 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Thursday night, Mayfield played the entire first half, completing 9-of-16 passes for 138 yards. Although he had no touchdowns, he didn’t have any turnovers, either.

Perhaps, even though his performance was above-average at best, it has given Mayfield the confidence to be ready to play, whenever and wherever.

"“I’m ready to go,” Mayfield said, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “It’s my job to be ready for that. So any opportunity I can get, I’ll take it. But I’ll be ready to do whatever it is, prepare the defense [as the scout-team quarterback], and just be ready to play as well.”"

The good news for Mayfield is that Jackson has already expressed he has confidence in his rookie backup. Perhaps, Jackson believes this is the best time for Mayfield to sit back and watch Taylor since he has more experience at the position.

Since Mayfield has won his coaching staff he doesn’t have to worry about their intent for him in the future.

In the end, the Browns are coming off a winless season, so Jackson may be making the right decision by letting a quarterback with experience attempt to right the ship. In the meantime, Mayfield’s job is strictly to stay ready and prepare for each week as if his number will be called.

With how the NFL season goes with quarterbacks, that could be at any time.