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It's been a year since Baker Mayfield predicted a Cleveland Browns turnaround

At last year's NFL Scouting Combine, Baker Mayfield practically predicted his success with the Cleveland Browns.
Credit: AP
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Baker Mayfield was impressive at last year's NFL Scouting Combine -- so impressive that the Cleveland Browns wound up selecting the Heisman Trophy winner with the No. 1 pick.

But perhaps Mayfield's best performance in Indianapolis a year ago wasn't in throwing drills or even the 40-yard dash, but rather the 13 minutes he spent standing at a podium fielding questions from the media.

It was there that Mayfield was asked about Browns general manager John Dorsey, who based on his previous comments had seemed to take a liking to the Oklahoma signal-caller. And when answering an inquiry about Cleveland's previous litany of failed quarterbacks, Mayfield's signature confidence was on full display.

"I think if anybody's going to turn that franchise around it would be me,'' Mayfield said. "They're close. They're very close. They have the right pieces. I think they just need one guy, a quarterback to make that difference.''

A year later, Mayfield's comments aren't only impressive -- they're practically clairvoyant.

After being selected by the Browns with the No. 1 overall pick two months later, Mayfield went on to put together a stellar rookie campaign. Leading Cleveland to a 6-7 record in 13 starts -- with the Browns amassing a 7-8-1 mark overall -- Mayfield completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards and an NFL rookie record 27 touchdowns.

This week, the Browns will return to Indianapolis for the annual Scouting Combine, which will take place from Feb. 26-March 4. This time -- and for the first time in a long time -- they'll do so without needing to find a quarterback.

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