Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Erik Lambert
Baker Mayfield is poised to become one of the most polarizing players in the 2018 NFL draft. Where does his scouting report place him?
Position: QB
School: Oklahoma
Year: Senior
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220 lbs
STRENGTHS:
- Some people like to question his arm strength. That’s ill-advised. He’s not a rocket thrower but has more than enough zip to make most of the NFL throws.
- Much more athletic than he gets credit for. Not a pure run but more than mobile enough to evade pressure and take off for first downs when the situation calls.
- Excellent at improvisation. When a play breaks down he’s able to use his feet to keep it alive and always seems to find the open man right before the defense gets him.
Everything that makes Mayfield such a nightmare is on display here. He keeps his eyes downfield, senses the pressure and scrambles out to his right buying time. As the defense closes in he holds the ball to the last second, allowing his receiver to come open for the big play and touchdown. This isn’t an isolated case. It’s something he’s done many times.
- General accuracy is solid. Doesn’t have many erratic throws and hits his targets at the short, intermediate and deep levels well.
- A lot of people don’t like his brash attitude but that’s a necessity for a good quarterback. He has a swagger about him, a confidence that he’s the one who will make the play.
- Proving himself to be a big game performer. It seems like the tougher the opponent, the better he plays. He cut up Ohio State and beat TCU twice in 2017 alone.
- Never afraid to pull the trigger down the field. He’ll check it down when needed but his eyes always start looking deep.
WEAKNESSES:
- Height is going to be a topic of discussion for Mayfield. While not at the Russell Wilson level, it’s still difficult for shorter quarterbacks to find consistent NFL success.
- Plays almost exclusively in the shotgun formation. It will be a substantial adjustment for him when he’s asked to take snaps from under center.
- Has somewhat of a windup delivery. This will make him more susceptible to strip sacks by pass rushers in the tighter pockets he’ll see.
- Much more of a free wheeler. His footwork can be all over the place. While he has the natural throwing motion to compensate in college, that will be dangerous in the pros.
- Can get a bit jumpy when the pocket gets cluttered. Didn’t have to deal with heavy pass rushes too often thanks to stout blocking up front.
Pro Comparison: Johnny Manziel
Don’t let the toxicity behind the name scare you. Manziel, even amidst his epic meltdown in Cleveland, showed flashes of how special he could be. The athleticism. The creativity and solid arm. All of it was there. He just couldn’t maintain the focus needed for success. Mayfield isn’t quite the athlete Manziel was, but he’s got a better head on his shoulders. He may be a bit of a rebel but the guy is a gamer who elevates his play against the best.
Projection: 1st Round
Most of the problems teams will have with Mayfield (aside from his size) are fixable with proper coaching. He’s got all the tools a team could want in a starting quarterback from the arm to the temperament. His tape and stat line speaks for itself. The guy took on every challenge in college football and passed them with flying colors. He’ll be a top 32 pick.