History says Browns to play Mayfield in 2018

Many NFL teams talk a great game after each draft, but rarely do they deliver on their intentions when easing their franchise quarterback into the starter’s role.

Many times when a quarterback is drafted No. 1 overall, teams declare to fans and media they won’t rush their franchise QB onto the field.

That talk isn’t reserved for just the top pick. After the Bears selected Mentor graduate Mitchell Trubisky in 2017, General Manager Ryan Pace said over and over Trubisky would not play as a rookie. The plan was to have free-agent signee Mike Glennon play the entire season, and let Trubisky watch.

That plan lasted four games. Trubisky got his feet wet, had some promising games, and is now firmly in place as the Windy City starter.

When the Browns returned in 1999, and Tim Couch was the No. 1 overall pick, the plan was to bring Couch along slowly. By Week 2 of the regular season, he was starting.

Which brings us to Baker Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy winner who was taken No. 1 overall by the Browns last April.

GM John Dorsey and Coach Hue Jackson said the plan in 2018 is for Tyrod Taylor to be the guy this season,

“He’s going to be the starter,” said Jackson in March, before the team drafted Mayfield. “There is no competition.”

Talk is great in the offseason. Then the game kicks off, and things don’t exactly go as planned.

History shows QBs drafted No. 1 overall don’t sit for long. The last draft marked the 52nd for the NFL. Mayfield was the 23th QB picked No. 1 overall.

Of the previous 22 signal-callers picked No. 1 overall, 18 played significant time (at least five starts, or more than 25 percent of the season) in their rookie campaign. That means 82 percent of teams that drafted a QB No. 1 overall either made it their intent to start him immediately or couldn’t resist the urge to let him sit, watch and learn.

The Browns say the latter is the plan with Mayfield in 2018, and if they stick to that plan the team will buck that trend.

History says that’s unlikely to happen.

A look at the rookie season for the last 22 QBs to be drafted No. 1 overall

before JARED » Started GOFF, Mayfield: seven L.A. RAMS, games, 2016 went nicely 0-7; in 2017 rebounded with 3,804 yards, passes. 28 touchdown JAMEIS WINSTON, TAMPA

BAY, 2015 » Started every game as rookie (4,042 yards, 22 TDs). ANDREW LUCK, INDIANAPOLIS, 2012 » Started every game as a rookie (4,374 yards, 23 TDs). CAM NEWTON, CAROLINA,

2011 » Started every game as a rookie (4,051 yards, 21 TDs). SAM BRADFORD, ST. LOUIS

RAMS, 2010 » Started every game as a rookie (3,512 yards, 18 TDs). MATTHEW STAFFORD, DETROIT, 2009 » Started 10 games as a rookie (2,267 yards, 13 TDs, 20 INT). JAMARCUS RUSSELL, RAIDERS, 2007 » Started one game in relief of Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper; considered the biggest all-time bust among QBs picked No. 1 overall. ALEX SMITH, SAN FRANCISCO, 2005 » Started seven games (875 yards, 1 TD, 11 INT). ELI MANNING, SAN DIEGO,

2004 » Traded to Giants, and started seven games (1,043 yards, 6 TDs) CARSON PALMER, CINCINNATI, 2003 » Did not play behind starter Jon Kitna; became the starter in 2004. DAVID CARR, HOUSTON

TEXANS, 2002 » Started all 16 games (2,592 yards, 9 TDs, 16 INT) MICHAEL VICK, ATLANTA,

2001 » Started two games in relief of starter Chris Chandler, but played in eight (785 yards, 2 TD, 289 rushing yards). TIM COUCH, BROWNS, 1999

» Became the No. 1 QB after Week 1, and started 14 games (2,447 yards, 15 TD)

PEYTON MANNING, INDIANAPOLIS, 1998 » Started all 16 games (3,739 yards, 26 TDs). DREW BLEDSOE, NEW ENGLAND, 1993 » Started 12 games (2,494 yards, 15 TDs). JEFF GEORGE, INDIANAPOLIS, 1990 » Started 12 games (2,152, 16 TDs). TROY AIKMAN, DALLAS,

1989 » Started 11 games, and went 0-11 (1,749, 9 TD, 18 INT). VINNY TESTAVERDE,

TAMPA BAY, 1987 » Played in six games, and started four in relief of starter Steve DeBerg, and went 0-4 (1,081 yards, 5 TDs). JOHN ELWAY, BALTIMORE,

1983 » Traded to Broncos, and started 10 games (1,663,7 TD, 14 INT). STEVE BARTKOWSKI, ATLANTA, 1975 » Started 11 games (1,662, 11 TDs). JIM PLUNKETT, NEW ENGLAND, 1971 » Started all 14 games (2,158, 19 TDs). TERRY BRADSHAW, PITTSBURGH, 1970 » Played in 13 games, with eight starts (1,410, 6 TD, 24 INT).

Palmer is the only No. 1 overall pick as a QB not to play a down as a rookie. Kitna made Coach Marvin Lewis’ decision to sit Palmer easy. He started every game that season, helped the team to an 8-8 mark and threw for 3,591 yards and 26 touchdowns.

If Taylor can produce similar results, Browns fans might have to a wait a full season to see Mayfield become the starter, and perhaps even see the field.

That’s the ideal scenario for Dorsey, Jackson and the Browns. Time will tell if plans must be altered.

Contact Podolski at MPodolski@News-Herald. com; On Twitter: @mpodo.