The sophomore slump proved a very real phenomenon for Baker Mayfield. Cleveland’s quarterback wasn’t as sharp or composed in his second season at the helm for the Browns in 2019. It was a stark contrast to his record-setting rookie campaign in 2018, a great debut that landed Mayfield national endorsement deals and strong MVP odds.
That momentum is now cooled after both Mayfield and his supporting cast played at a lower level in his second year. Now Mayfield is on the spot to prove the hardships of his sophomore slump are a building block, a necessary setback on the way to bigger and better things.
There is ample historical precedent for precisely that happening for Mayfield. Several great quarterbacks suffered the sophomore slump after a superior rookie season and then rebounded nicely. The list goes back as far as Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton.
Here are some recent quarterbacks who fell off from Year 1 to Year 2 and how they wound up performing in the longer-term once the sophomore slump was in the rearview mirror.