Is Baker Mayfield Truly a Top Ten Selection?

The 2017-18 NFL season is behind us, but the NFL Draft is only getting closer. Plenty of headlines have left some players rising in terms of draft stock, while players such as Baker Mayfield continue to test the patience of front offices.

For those who aren’t aware, according to a police report on February 25th of 2017, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was arrested for public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and for fleeing from authorities. While this news is over one year old, it has left a bad taste in the mouths of multiple media outlets.

Since then, Mayfield apologized formally for his actions, but as we all know, actions always speak louder than words. With multiple inappropriate gestures and outbreaks through the most recent NCAAF season, the 22-year old has shown virtually no growth in his behavior.

Still, on April 26th, there will be five teams desperate for a quarterback in the first round: The Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals.

According to my personal rankings, I’ve had Mayfield ranked as the #4 quarterback within this particular draft class. Ahead of him, I had Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen, in that respective order. The more I sit back and think about what it truly means to become a “face” of a franchise, the more I realize that Mayfield doesn’t fit that model.

All of the aforementioned franchises that are seeking a new chapter need to make the safest bet possible. With the exception of Arizona, the rest of the front offices currently contain top ten selections in the Draft. If you were a GM, would you truly bet on Baker Mayfield to uphold standards and lead your team to their maximum potential? I wouldn’t.

Ahead of Mayfield, I would now also place Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph ahead of him. With profound numbers at a college level, Rudolph could very well be molded into an efficient starter. In my own world, the team that fits with Rudolph the most would be the Cardinals, simply because they have the most immediate weapons to surround him.

I’m not going on a limb and saying Mayfield is “undraftable” by any means, and I’m also not comparing him to Johnny Manziel in any way shape or form. On the other hand, when you come across “carefree” college players, the obvious instinct is to avoid them on draft day. When you’re seeking a true leader among adults, that any player worth considering needs a variety of attributes under his belt, and Mayfield is missing quite a few.

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