The Baker Mayfield draft class remains one of the most fascinating quarterback groups in recent NFL history. Selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, Mayfield entered the league alongside several quarterbacks who would go on to create very different career paths. Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson were all selected in the same draft, making the class unusually deep at the game’s most important position.
Years later, the 2018 quarterback group continues to attract attention because of the contrasting careers that followed. Some became franchise leaders, some experienced major setbacks, and others had to rebuild their careers with new teams. Looking back at the class provides an interesting picture of how difficult it can be to predict quarterback success on draft night.
The 2018 Quarterback Draft Class
The 2018 NFL Draft featured five quarterbacks selected in the first round. Baker Mayfield went first overall to Cleveland, followed by Sam Darnold at No. 3 to the New York Jets, Josh Allen at No. 7 to the Buffalo Bills, Josh Rosen at No. 10 to the Arizona Cardinals, and Lamar Jackson at No. 32 to the Baltimore Ravens.
That made the class particularly unusual. Four quarterbacks were selected inside the top 10, while Jackson, despite being a highly accomplished college player, remained available until the final pick of the opening round.
At the time, scouts and teams had very different opinions about the prospects. Each quarterback brought a distinct combination of arm talent, athletic ability, college production, experience, and perceived weaknesses.
The draft order also showed how difficult quarterback evaluation can be. The player selected first was not necessarily the player who ultimately produced the strongest NFL career.
Why Cleveland Chose Baker Mayfield First
Mayfield arrived in the NFL after an extraordinary college career at Oklahoma. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2017 after throwing for 4,340 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only five interceptions while leading Oklahoma to a 12-1 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
His journey was unusual even before reaching the NFL. Mayfield began his college career as a walk-on and eventually became one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in college football.
His competitive personality, accuracy, ability to extend plays, and command of Oklahoma’s offense made him an intriguing prospect. However, there were also questions surrounding his size and whether his college style would translate effectively to the professional level.
NFL draft records listed Mayfield at just over 6 feet and 215 pounds. His prospect evaluation highlighted both his ability to process information and extend plays and concerns about whether a smaller quarterback from a spread-oriented offense could succeed consistently in the NFL.
Cleveland ultimately decided those concerns were outweighed by his production and overall quarterback skill set.
Mayfield’s Fast Start in Cleveland
Mayfield’s rookie season immediately changed the conversation surrounding his selection.
After taking over the starting job during the 2018 season, he provided Cleveland with stability and excitement at quarterback. He finished the season with 27 touchdown passes, setting an NFL rookie record at the time. That mark was later surpassed by Justin Herbert.
His early success was especially notable because Cleveland had struggled for years to find consistent quarterback play.
Mayfield’s confidence, quick release, competitive attitude, and willingness to make difficult throws quickly became important parts of his identity. His rookie campaign suggested that Cleveland might have found the long-term quarterback it had been searching for.
However, the following seasons became considerably more complicated.
Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen Took Different Paths
Sam Darnold was selected third overall by the Jets, making him the second quarterback taken in the Baker Mayfield draft class.
Darnold entered the league with strong physical tools and considerable attention after his college career at USC. Like Mayfield, he experienced flashes of impressive play but also dealt with inconsistency and changing circumstances around him.
Josh Rosen was selected 10th overall by Arizona. His draft stock had been heavily discussed before the draft, and he was viewed by some evaluators as one of the most naturally polished passers available.
His NFL career, however, took a difficult turn. Rosen moved through multiple teams and was unable to establish himself as a long-term starter.
Their experiences demonstrate how much context matters when evaluating young quarterbacks. Coaching changes, offensive systems, supporting casts, injuries, and organizational decisions can all influence development.
Josh Allen Became a Major Part of the Story
Josh Allen was selected seventh overall by Buffalo and entered the league with a reputation built around exceptional physical ability.
His enormous arm strength and athleticism were obvious, but accuracy and consistency were among the major questions surrounding him before the draft.
Allen’s development eventually became one of the defining stories from the class. He improved significantly as a passer and became the centerpiece of Buffalo’s offense.
That progression is important when examining the class because it shows that a quarterback’s draft profile is only the beginning of the evaluation process. A prospect who enters the league with weaknesses can make substantial improvements under the right circumstances.
Lamar Jackson Changed Expectations
Perhaps the most striking development from the class was Lamar Jackson’s rise after being selected 32nd overall by Baltimore.
Jackson entered the NFL as one of the most dynamic athletes in the group. His ability as a runner was extraordinary, but questions remained about how effectively his passing game would translate to the professional level.
Baltimore eventually built an offense around Jackson’s unique skill set. The results changed perceptions of what a modern NFL quarterback could look like.
Jackson won the NFL MVP award in 2019, only two seasons after entering the league. His success became an important part of the long-term story surrounding the Baker Mayfield draft class.
The contrast was remarkable. Mayfield had been the first player selected, while Jackson had been the final quarterback taken in the first round.
A Draft Class Full of Contrasts
The 2018 quarterback class is memorable because its members followed dramatically different career trajectories.
Mayfield experienced early success in Cleveland, later left the Browns, and continued his career with other teams. Darnold faced his own series of changes. Rosen struggled to secure a permanent starting role. Allen developed into a major franchise quarterback in Buffalo, while Jackson became one of the league’s most distinctive dual-threat players.
The NFL itself has repeatedly identified the 2018 group as one of the notable quarterback classes of the modern era. The class included five first-round quarterbacks and several other quarterbacks selected in later rounds.
That depth made the class interesting from the beginning, but hindsight has made it even more compelling.
What the Draft Can Teach About Quarterbacks
The story of this group illustrates why quarterback evaluation is so challenging.
College production matters, but it does not guarantee professional success. Physical tools matter, but they are not enough by themselves. Mental processing, coaching, scheme fit, supporting players, health, confidence, and organizational stability can all influence a quarterback’s development.
The 2018 draft also demonstrated that draft position does not determine a player’s eventual career.
Mayfield was the first overall selection. Jackson was the 32nd. Allen went seventh. Their eventual careers showed that the relationship between draft position and long-term performance is far more complicated than simply following the draft order.
Mayfield’s Place in the Class
Mayfield remains an important figure in the history of the 2018 quarterback group because he was the player chosen to start the entire class.
His selection carried enormous expectations, particularly because Cleveland invested the No. 1 overall pick in him after years of quarterback uncertainty.
His career has included impressive stretches, difficult periods, changes of teams, and opportunities to rebuild his reputation. Those developments make his journey particularly interesting when viewed alongside the other quarterbacks selected in his draft.
The Baker Mayfield draft class is therefore not simply a story about one quarterback. It is a case study in how five highly regarded prospects can enter the NFL together and experience completely different professional journeys.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Baker Mayfield drafted?
Baker Mayfield was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the first quarterback chosen that year.
Who else was in Baker Mayfield’s draft class?
The other first-round quarterbacks were Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson. Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2018 draft.
Why was the 2018 quarterback class so notable?
It was notable because five quarterbacks were selected in the first round, including four within the first 10 selections. The group also produced very different career outcomes.
Where was Lamar Jackson drafted?
Lamar Jackson was selected 32nd overall by the Baltimore Ravens, making him the final pick of the first round in 2018.
Was Baker Mayfield a Heisman Trophy winner?
Yes. Mayfield won the 2017 Heisman Trophy after a standout season at Oklahoma. He became the 21st Heisman winner to be selected first overall in the NFL Draft.
Conclusion
The Baker Mayfield draft class has become one of the most interesting quarterback groups to revisit from the modern NFL era. Five first-round quarterbacks entered the league together, yet their careers developed in dramatically different directions.
Mayfield’s selection first overall reflected the confidence Cleveland placed in his college production, leadership, accuracy, and playmaking ability. Allen and Jackson later demonstrated how dramatically quarterbacks can develop after entering the league, while Darnold and Rosen experienced very different challenges.
Ultimately, the 2018 class is a reminder that an NFL Draft is only the starting point. A player’s development continues long after draft night, and coaching, opportunity, system, teammates, and individual growth can all shape what happens next.
For that reason, the Baker Mayfield draft class remains a compelling chapter in NFL history, not only because of who was selected but because of how differently those quarterbacks ultimately shaped their professional careers.
