Fansided

5 burning questions the Browns must answer in 2019

By William Schneiderhan

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 28, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 28, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 28, 2018: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 28, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won 33-18. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 28, 2018: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 28, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won 33-18. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

Baker Mayfield finished out his collegiate career with a College Football Playoff berth and a Heisman Trophy win. Dorsey then took the former Oklahoma Sooner number-one overall in the 2018 draft.

As mentioned before, Tyrod Taylor was the starting quarterback when the season began. Mayfield ended up taking the job after his adrenaline-injecting performance in that Week 3 win against the Jets at home.

Mayfield cruised through his first nine games with minimal hiccups and mistakes. Of course, the team only went 4-5 during that time, but Mayfield threw for 17 touchdowns and 2,242 yards in that span. He completed over 62 % of his passes with seven interceptions.

The rookie than cooled off towards the back end of the schedule. He threw 10 scores with seven picks and 1,483 yards over his final five games. In total, he had a convincing rookie season with 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 14 games.

Mayfield’s progression is key – as is the case with all neophyte signal callers- and he needs to take the next step in order for the team’s roster to reach its peak.

With the likes of Beckham, Landry, Chubb and David Njoku, the Browns will be able to score with ease if Mayfield grows more and becomes an even better quarterback in 2019.

This question isn’t groundbreaking, but it is one that still needs to be answered because the team can either go one way or the other based on Mayfield’s growth.

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