AFC North QB Power Rankings: Joe Burrow is carving out his place

No. 3: Baker Mayfield

Is Baker Mayfield the most disliked quarterback in the division? Maybe, but it seems like he basks in that title and uses it as fuel.

After getting beat by Pittsburgh in Week 8, Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns marched into Cincinnati and stomped the Bengals behind his 14-of-21, 218 yards and two touchdown performance. According to PFF, Mayfield’s the highest-ranked quarterback from Week 9 at 89.8.

He’s suffered both a torn labrum and a fractured shoulder bone already this season but only sat out for one game against Denver in Week 7. His injury hasn’t held him back too much, and hopefully it’s not a lingering issue that pops back up later on in the year.

Cleveland is 5-4 and is currently in third place in the AFC North. Mayfield has led the Browns out of the dark and into the light ever since he was drafted in 2018, but he doesn’t possess the same level of talent as Burrow and Jackson.

Mayfield has a 66.7 completion percentage (150-of-225) and has thrown for eight touchdowns and three interceptions in eight games. His 99.4 rating is the second-highest in the division.

He led Cleveland to the playoffs for the first time in 2020 since the 2002 season. The Browns knocked off the Steelers in the AFC Wild Card game, so his energy has already brought plenty of excitement to fans.

If Mayfield can lead Cleveland back to the playoffs for a second year in a row, and maybe even past the divisional round, there’s no telling what fans in the Land will do.