Through 18 games of his NFL career, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has a clearly defined weakness. He struggles against teams that present a consistent pass rush without relying on blitzes ..
... In situations where Mayfield can't quickly decipher where a throw should go either because the defense is doing a good job in coverage or he's not making the right read, he holds onto the ball too long, tries to extend plays and takes bad sacks.
There are times when Mayfield has been able to extend plays and make things happen, but the reward is not worth the risk. In multiple games, it has made winning the game far more difficult or straight lost it.
Part of the problem is because Mayfield has been doing this, it's becoming a reputation and opposing pass rushers are playing hard the whole way, thinking they'll have an opportunity to get him on second and third efforts.
The result is Mayfield is beating himself before the opponent has a chance. There are simply too many negative plays that can be laid at his feet. Incomplete passes are better than sacks. Punts are better than turnovers. It's important to note that nothing happening is something that can't be fixed. It's not a fatal flaw and the fact that Mayfield isn't cowering in these situations is important. If anything, he's relying on himself too much, not willing to trust his teammates to do their jobs.
He can also improve his accuracy and make it more consistent, which has been his trademark. His mechanics can continue to get better and he can stop missing passes he shouldn't, typically high.
Mayfield's competitiveness may be part of the issue in why he is unwilling to give up on plays, but it's also the reason it's easy to believe he will get through it. From walk on to transfer to the Heisman Trophy and the top overall pick in the NFL Draft, Mayfield's history is one of addressing and overcoming weakness.