The guys on the NFL network seemed pretty clear Thursday night that the Browns would only press their first-round treasure from the 2018 draft, Baker Mayfield, into service if there was an emergency.
Noting the likes of 2017 pick Patrick Mahomes, who had a year under Alex Smith to learn some chops, Mayfield was still a work in progress, went the announcers. They continued this banter, pointing out Aaron Rodgers’ time under Brett Favre as another example of Mayfield’s trajectory.
Well, suddenly the wildly ineffective incumbent, Tyrod Taylor, fell under the aegis of the concussion protocol late in the first half. And Mayfield — whose name suggests more a cast member of “Downton Abbey” than starting NFL signal-caller — guided his team to an amazing come-from-behind win that wiped out over 630 consecutive winless days for the storied Brownies.
Aside from the fact that it looks like I need to scramble in my QB flex league to come up with a second QB to replace Taylor, I began thinking about this premise of needing some form of mentor being a path to NFL success. Surely, in the case of Rodgers and maybe Steve Young, who tutored for a spell under Joe Montana, there are instances where the methodical movement of a young player into the helm of a team seems to be something to be handled gradually, rather than trial by fire.
However, there are 32 starting QB slots in the NFL, and if Josh Rosen gets the start in Arizona this Sunday, that means nearly one-third of the teams have replaced their QB with essentially a rookie since the start of 2017, with Mahomes being the only one who got a year’s apprenticeship.
But, let’s just take a look at these guys and see if they have the staying power of Rodgers?
Patrick Mahomes (KC): Not much we can say that hasn’t been said already, but 10 TDs over his first two games with no picks is an NFL record. I’d say the gunslinger is here to stay, wouldn’t you? Note that Mahomes did throw an interception the game he started (and won) last year against the Titans.
Dak Prescott (Dal): If there were questions about Prescott’s ability, they seem to be dashed with Dallas’ convincing win over the Giants Sunday. Prescott threw a pick his second start last year but hung in with 24 TDs to 13 picks on the season.
Jimmy Garappolo (SF): Ideally an argument for the Favre School of tutelage, Garappolo did play in 17 games for the Patriots before being swapped, though clearly in the shadow of Tom Brady. But, the swap to SF — and seven straight wins to finish 2017 — paved the way for JImmy G.
DeShaun Watson (Hou): Not unlike Prescott in that we were not sure after Week 1 if this was the same guy we saw last year. After Week 2, it seems pretty clear.
Mitch Trubisky (Chi): The plan last year was to give Trubisky the Mahomes treatment, when Mike Glennon proved to be as awful as Tyrod Taylor. And, the changed Bears — long past the days of Jay Cutler — are his and look for real.
Sam Darnold (NYJ): Darnold is cocky, and he might get knocked around a little, but he clearly has talent and is fun to watch — another guy taking over a team changing and theoretically improving. He is pretty good, and the Jets are suddenly kind of fun, too, despite their loss to Cleveland.
Josh Allen (Buf): The jury is out, but Allen has a tough job trying to work a team that as of now is not very good. Just the fact that he is trying this as a rookie speaks volumes.
Josh Rosen (Ari): This Sunday has to be the day for Arizona might be as bad as Buffalo, and, well, nowhere to go but up. So, let’s see what the UCLA alum can do.
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