2018 NFL Mock Draft: Impact of recent trades and signings
player. 59. . Quarterback. Oklahoma Sooners. Baker Mayfield. 11
With Kenyan Drake at running back and DeVante Parker at wide receiver, the youth movement is in full effect in Miami. Jarvis Landry has been traded to the Cleveland Browns and Jay Cutler has entered free agency, meaning the face of the offense has changed.
Thankfully for the Dolphins, Baker Mayfield falls to No. 11 and becomes the new face of the franchise—and yes, that means moving on from Ryan Tannehill.
For the people complaining that Mayfield's only operating from a clean pocket...passer rating under pressure:
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) February 8, 2018
2015: 117.4 (1st in the nation)
2016: 119.2 (1st)
2017: 111.6 (1st)
Mayfield should go higher than this, but there are growing concerns about his personality—concerns that I believe to be unfounded. He may be a polarizing figure, but he’s a player whose teammates rallied around him during his college career.
He’s a dynamic talent with the athleticism to make plays outside of the pocket and the arm strength to launch the ball all over the field.
The question in Miami is going to be how quickly Mayfield adjusts to playing from under center. It’s not something he did very often in college, but he thrives under pressure, plays his heart out, and should endear himself to Dolphins fans.
I strongly believe that Mayfield will end up being one of the best players in this draft class, but I also can’t ignore the growing buzz that he could slide.