Mayfield gets workout time with Landry
Rookie also throws to Giants’ Beckham during USC session.
Browns rookie quarterback BakerMayfield recently returned from vacationing in Hawaii with his fiancee, EmilyWilkinson, friends and family and got back towork by passing to a pair of Pro Bowl wide receivers.
Mayfield had a throwing session with Browns receiver Jarvis Landry and NewYork Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this pastweekend at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
The Browns andMayfield posted photographs of the workout on social media and Landry shared a video.
Landry and Beckham are close friends who played together at Louisiana State University under receivers coach Adam Henry, who is now the receivers coach of the Browns after spending the past two seasons in the same role with the Giants. Landry lobbied for the Browns to trade forBeckham in March but conceded a month later, “I think that period is over and he’s going to be a Giant for another year.”
Mayfield, who’s expected to enter the season as Tyrod Taylor’s backup, Landry and Beckham will reunite when the Browns visit the Giants Aug. 9 in the preseason opener.
Training partners: On Monday, Taylor and Browns widereceiverCoreyColeman joinedMayfield and Landry forworkouts at USC as they tuned up for the opening of training camp July 26.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson interviewed Taylor and Landry about theworkouts and posted videos of their chats on social media. She askedTaylor about the status of Coleman, the 15th overall pick in 2016 who faces a make-or-break situation with the Browns.
“He looks good,” Taylor said. “He had a real strong spring. We need for him to take that momentum back and continue to keep building on it in training camp. We knowwhat type of playmaker he can be. He’s had a couple of injuries throughout his career, but he knows just as well as everyone in Cleveland knows this is a big year for him. I’m looking forward to him going out there and making plays.”
Skeptical about pick: Former Giants coach Ben McAdoo recently told the New York Post he ranked Mayfield sixth among the quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, behind, in order, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Mason Rudolph.
Of course, the Browns drafted Mayfield first overall, the New York Jets picked Darnold third, the Buffalo Bills selected Allen seventh, the Arizona Cardinals chose Rosen 10th, the Baltimore Ravens picked Jackson 32nd and the Pittsburgh Steelers took Rudolph in the third round (No. 76 overall).
“He’s got an edge to him, I like that. He’s gonna lead, they’re gonna follow him,” McAdoo said ofMayfield. “I didn’t see a lot of pro-style football in his college tape. And if you’re short you have to be able to make up for it some way, somehow, and personality doesn’t do that.
“I didn’t think he was a great athlete. This guy is kinda like a pocket quarterback that is short andwith small hands, that’s what I worry about.”
In January, the Browns interviewed M cA do of or their offensive coordinator job that eventuallywent to Todd Haley. For the record, McAdoo is apprehensive about Darnold, too, because the coach is turned off by the QB’s long throwing motion.
“He can overcomeit, guys have, but that’s something that’s a challenge for me,” McAdoo said. “I’m gonna be looking at that, trying to fix it, because it’s a fundamental flaw. The quarterback’s No. 1 job is to pass the football. If I don’t like the way he throws the ball, I have a hard time picking him, right?”