Mayfield back in mix at #1 … We were going to start this morning’s report off with rumors about two QBs who seem to be getting hotter with the draft just two days away. One of those is Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield who has kind of been the top 4 QBs poor cousin, the guy who somebody would settle on once the other three were off the board. Of late, there have been multiple reports that the NY Jets are seriously considering Mayfield with the third pick. Then this morning we wake up to another spate of rumors that Mayfield is very much in the mix to be taken first overall by Cleveland. Those reports, of course, come just a day after reports that the Browns had finally pretty much settled on USC QB Sam Darnold to be the #1 pick. Hard to know what’s going on there. It’s possible that Browns’ G.M. John Dorsey, or someone else either in Cleveland or elsewhere is just messing with us with nothing much better to do. At the same time, though, this is not the first time that Matfield’s name has been floated as a serious contender to be the #1 pick as he reportedly does have supporters in the Browns’ organization including personnel consultant Scot McCloughan. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, the other QB reportedly getting renewed attention is Lousiville’s Lamar Jackson. With the top 4 QBs likely to be off the board within the first 5-6 picks, Jackson the clear next best option at the position has become a very popular guy with as many as a half dozen other teams looking to upgrade at the position including Miami, Buffalo, and Arizona who pick 11th, 12th and 15th respectively barring any trades. It won’t be a surprise if any of those teams pulls the trigger on Jackson at those spots. One other team that supposedly is intrigued by Jackson is New England which has the 23rd and 31st picks and is reportedly seriously thinking of trying to move up to acquire Tom Brady’s eventual successor.
