Baker Mayfield woke up feeling dangerous and from that moment the fortunes of the Cleveland Browns changed
The now infamous quote from Baker Mayfield came after the Cleveland Browns first win after firing Hue Jackson. A 28-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at home. After that game the overall vibe of the Cleveland Browns changed. The team played confident and with attitude. Most importantly the team finally found their franchise quarterback.
The improved play of Mayfield under then offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens sprouted optimism about the future of the team. Now the head coach, Kitchens will look to build upon the success from last season and foster the growth of the team. It will important for Kitchens and Mayfield to work together and ensure the development of the Browns offense continues.
This offseason is different for the Browns
Normally once the offseason hits there are discussions about who Cleveland should take at the top of the draft. Debates over taking a quarterback first or second overall were commonplace the past three seasons. Additionally discussions about which coaching candidate would be the best fit for the team.
This is not the case this offseason.
The team performed well down the stretch and finished with a record of 7-8-1. This record means that the Browns do not have a top-two pick for the first time since 2015. While it has only been four years, it seems like an eternity due to the fact of how bad the team looked previously.
In years past the team would attempt to find the perfect pair to lead the team into the future. Hiring a new head coach and drafting a quarterback. Now that the team has their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield and their head coach in Freddie Kitchens, assets can be used to address other areas of need.
Since the Browns are on the rise, free agency will no longer be such a struggle. Convincing players to sign in Cleveland is a much easier task than before. There is a solid foundation to build upon and days of the massive overpay for marginal players appear to be behind them.
Having a franchise quarterback and a coaching staff that believes in the team can go a long way. There is confidence about the future of the Cleveland Browns. Many expect the team to compete as early as next season. Time will tell if this turns out to be true, but it does appear that the team is on the cusp of something they have not experienced in a very long time. Actual success.
