Baker Mayfield could have the best training camp of any rookie in NFL history, and it sounds like it still wouldn’t be enough for him to win a starting job in his first season as a pro.
After Mayfield and other Cleveland Browns rookies went through their first minicamp on Friday, Jackson praised the No. 1 pick but continued to temper expectations.
“He has a lot of characteristics that we love. That’s why he’s here. (But) let’s make sure we pump our brakes a little bit, because he’s got a ways to go and a lot to learn,” Jackson said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I’m very excited about him. It was a good first day, but he’s got a ways to go. The guy you’re comparing him to (Tyrod Taylor) has played a lot of games, and won games in the National Football League.”
Jackson then once again assured reporters Taylor is going to be under center in Week 1.
“I’m not going to back off of this,” he said. “We can keep writing this narrative, Tyrod Taylor’s the starting quarterback of this football team, and that won’t change.
“I don’t want to look back. That’s why we traded for (Taylor). He’s here to lead this organization to winning. I think Tyrod Taylor will do that. I’m very excited about Baker Mayfield. I’m glad he’s on our football team. I’m excited about Drew Stanton. I’m excited about our quarterback room in general. But it feels good to have a guy I know has played in games in the National Football League in the tough division we play in and won.”
The Browns have had a revolving door at quarterback for many years now, and they want to finally get it right. It makes sense that they don’t want to risk hurting Mayfield’s confidence by throwing him into the fold prematurely. While some other teams may have already admitted they are willing to give their rookie QBs a chance to win the starting job, it sounds like Mayfield is going to have to wear a headset for a while.
