Browns Draft Rumors: Baker Mayfield Drawing 'Sincere Interest' After Workout

The Cleveland Browns reportedly have "sincere interest" in quarterback Baker Mayfield after putting him through a private workout that went "great," a source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. 

Per that report, a source said "the Browns aren't just giving lip service to the Mayfield talk, and that they genuinely like him. Whether or not they'd take him No. 1 overall is still in question, but the Browns have some options in terms of trading up or down with their first two picks."

It's hard to imagine the Browns not using the top overall pick on a quarterback after years of mediocrity at the position, with players like Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen all in the running. 

As for Mayfield, Browns' general manager John Dorsey has publicly praised the Oklahoma signal-caller.

"He had a really good workout," he said, per Cabot. "He had a really good conversation with the group that night. He did really well on the Xs and Os. That determination will come I would say within the next three to four weeks of kind of where we're going to be in that process and kind of finalize everything toward the draft."

Dorsey added: "He's very competitive on the football field. His teammates absolutely love him. Everybody in the support organization of Oklahoma loves him. He's got a degree of humility in his person."

Of course, rumors around the draft come dime a dozen. Which isn't to say that the Browns don't have interest in Mayfield, but simply to note that draft season is a house made of smoke and mirrors. Other rumors of late have linked the team to Darnold and Allen, for instance: 

Mayfield certainly proved himself on the field during his time at Oklahoma, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2017 and throwing for 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns and just 21 interceptions in his three seasons at Oklahoma, completing 69.8 percent of his passes.

On the other hand, there have been questions about his size, demeanor and off-field concerns. As one NFC scout told Bucky Brooks of NFL.com in February:

"He's a good college player, but I'm not ready to proclaim him a franchise guy. He has some talent, but he's not as accurate as a young Drew Brees and he's not nearly as explosive or dynamic as Russell Wilson. ... I think he can be a good player at the next level, but I think scouts and coaches need to know exactly who he is before they bring him in."

The Browns, at the very least, have had the chance to bring him in. Whether they draft him remains to be seen.