Baker has more playoff wins than Deshaun Watson, Kirk Cousins, Trevor Lawrence, Dainiel Jones, and Geno Smith. He is tied with Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Lamar Jackson. I think he is better then average and that’s the cost for better then average. He might even be a top 10 QB after this year. Playing hurt in Cleveland really changed his trajectory.

Baker is, arguably, a top-12 QB in the league. Certainly top-15. His contract AAV ranks 15th before Cousins signs and whatever you want to do with the Russell Wilson shit. I'd say it's pretty much on the money.

Generational QB's don't grow on trees and it's easier to just pay a decent middle of the pack QB than to throw a bajillion picks to get into the top 5, 10, or 15 to get a guy.

And it's hard to convince fans to be faithful if you basically tell them you're just gonna suck for 2-5 years but after all of that we'll get our guy and it'll be all worth it.

Agreed.

Baker deserves a shitload of credit for getting back on the horse and battling himself back to relevance after the Browns did him dirty.

He is, at worst, an average NFL quarterback and this is what they cost. And unlike most average NFL quarterbacks, there miiiiiiight be a little more upside there into being actually good.

Better than bad does not equal good

:LOL:
You auditioning for fortune cookie writer or something?

Still better than 2/3's of the QBs in the league.

The question really isn't "Can he go toe-to-toe against Mahomes in the playoffs and win?" because that question has only been answered by one current QB with an all-time great WR corps to help him out.

The question is, "Is he good enough to beat any QB in the top-10 not named Pat Mahomes in the playoffs?" I think he is.

Get the Bucs a good SWR, LG, RB, NB, SS and LB and they are going to be pretty good again. That's not an impossible laundry list.

Yep.

These billionaire owners aren't going to pay this type of money to anyone if they don't think they are worth it. Mayfield is capable of doing enough for Bucs owner to get a return on his investment and keep Bucs competitive until they find their guy.

We are spoiled here in KC w Mahomes but lets not forget before he came here how hard it was for KC to find an elite QB. It's simply a very difficult position to play which is why even mediocre QBs get paid the way they do.

So much of this is spot on. There are many years this place would have been salivating over having a Baker Mayfield. My how times have changed.

In fairness, there are a bunch of parallels between Baker and Alex.

And it was hard to ever get super stoked about Alex.

Good post. He shouldn't have done it. Cleveland couldn't wait to dump him and pay through the nose for a notably worse QB. They deserve it.

That's a great point, he deserves some credit.

Russillo had a stat that over some number of years (25 or something) there were precisely 0 1st round QBs that got let go for their second contract won a playoff game until Tannehill. Now Baker has one. So what he's done is pretty substantial.

Plus his age would suggest he has some upside.

People forget what life without Mahomes is like.

The reality is Baker gives you a shot. Not a shot that Mahomes gives you, but a shot. Getting some rook in the bottom half of the first, or giving up a kings ransom and end up with a Fields type, more than likely gives you less of a chance.

Yeah, we've proven that almost nobody can hang with Mahomes. Even with ****edy ****all at WR. He's in the NFC, they need to worry about hanging with the NFC QBs, and hope for the best if they have to face Mahomes.

Why didn't the Browns simply keep Baker (and the picks)? Is Watson (with his price tag) really a better option?!?

Even before them, the list is long and continued seemingly forever. If you have been a fan of this team since Lenny the cool, this is what you have endured prior to Patrick Mahomes:

Mike Livingston,
Tony Adams,
Steve Fuller,
Bill Kenney,
Todd Blackledge,
Matt Stevens,
Frank Seurer,
Steve DeBerg,
Ron Jaworski,
Steve Pelluer,
Mark Vlassic,
Dave Kreig,
Joe Montana,
Matt Blundin,
Steve Bono,
Rich Gannon,
Elvis Grbac,
Warren Moon,
Trent Green,
Todd Collins,
Damon Huard,
Brodie Croyle, '
Tyler Thigpen,
Matt ****ing Cassel,
Tyler Palko,
Kyle Orton,
Brady Quinn,
Alex Smith,
Chase Daniel and Nick Foles.

because they're totally inept.

Watson is a fraud. And a serial sexual assaulter. I know life-long Browns fans that walked away on that one.

Stupid, stupid franchise.

I’ll never understand it. You’re better off just waiting it out and picking through whatever veterans are left on the scrap heap after the draft and paying one $5-6 million.

There should be a “mid-tier” salary range for guys like Mayfield of around $15M per year, but that market doesn’t seem to be a thing. It’s either $30M a year or you’re lucky to earn a one year deal. Doesn’t make any sense but it’s the way it ended up.