Dorsey: Mayfield has it under control

How times have changed for Baker Mayfield and the Browns since Mayfield first stepped the huddle in the second quarter of the game against the Jets last fall.

The Browns were 0-2 and trailing the Jets, 14-0. Mayfield rallied his team to a 21-17 victory, started the next 13 games, set a rookie record by throwing 27 touchdown passes and led the Browns to 7-8-1 finish.

Expectations for 2019 are high, especially after general manager John Dorsey traded safety Jabrill Peppers plus picks 17 and 95 in the 2019 draft to the Giants for star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Now Mayfield doesn’t have to only win games. He has to keep an array of egos in harness.

“With Baker, he showed last year that he can step up to certain challenges,” Dorsey said March 14 on a conference call.

“The object of this thing is to surround him with as many good football players as you possibly can. It seems like Odell and Baker have a relationship formed. I’m not sure where it formed, but they tell me that they have a relationship and that it’s a good relationship. I’m excited to see what the whole bunch can do.”

Dorsey has made other impactful moves in his time as Browns general manager, such as trading for wide receiver Jarvis Landry and safety Damarious Randall plus drafting Mayfield, cornerback Denzel Ward and running back Nick Chubb.

Only drafting Mayfield has the reward-risk of trading for Beckham. Beckham had 390 catches and 44 touchdown catches in five seasons with the Giants, but he also had issues with quarterback Eli Manning and Giants head coach Pat Shurmur.

Of course, that wasn’t news to Dorsey.

“Odell, he is a very passionate and competitive guy that’s going to help this football team,” Dorsey said. “We all understand the magnitude of his ability to play the game of football. He’s a good football player, and you can’t have enough weapons around you. He’s a really good asset to have on our football team.”

The expectations are higher for Mayfield because of what he did last year and because Beckham makes the Browns better. Naturally, that makes expectations for the Browns’ first-time head coach Freddie Kitchens high, but Dorsey won’t fall into the trap of making bold predictions.

“Expectations, I hear a lot about that, but I know this – good football teams, they win in the fall,” Dorsey said. “We’ve added some talent. Now, the chemistry part has to take over with it. Teams win in the fall. They don’t win in March, and that’s good teams.

“With regards to Freddie, Freddie is one of those individuals who I love because he is so straightforward and honest. He’s direct. He’s going to set expectations high. There’s that accountability level. He’ll make players be accountable. He is the same guy every day. That’s who he is.”

The Browns haven’t won a playoff game since 1994, haven’t been to the playoffs since 2002 and haven’t had a winning season since they were 10-6 in 2007.

“We’ve added some talent. Now, the chemistry part has to take over with it. Teams win in the fall. They don’t win in March, and that’s good teams.”