Browns' Darnold-loving exec explains how Mayfield changed his mind

After the scouting combine, it was widely assumed that the Cleveland Browns had zeroed in on Sam Darnold as their man at the top of the 2018 draft. However, Cleveland made a late pivot to Baker Mayfield that shocked the NFL world.

Asked Monday what the Browns saw in Mayfield that they didn't see in Darnold, vice president of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith explained that the 2017 Heisman winner's 'it' factor swayed him from his original top grade on Darnold.

"Here's the honest to God's truth," Highsmith said, according to CantonRep.com's Steve Doerschuk. "From the start of his college football season to the end of the season, I had Darnold No. 1 and Baker No. 2, (Josh) Rosen No. 3, (Lamar) Jackson No. 4, and (Josh) Allen after that.

"On our way through everything, you couldn't tell me Darnold wasn't the best. I did all my evaluations of the season. Then comes the part where you meet them off the field. You watch their workouts. You watch everything. And Baker blew me away. Highly, highly intelligent. Highly competitive.

"And he had a trait that some of the good ones have. I call it efficacy. That includes the power to (affect) other people. I thought that of all the quarterbacks I watched, he stood out far and above the other guys. When he walked into a room, you knew he was there."

Darnold didn't have to wait long to hear his name called, as the New York Jets jumped on the talented quarterback at No. 3 overall.

Josh Allen was also in contention to go the Browns but ultimately went seventh overall to the Buffalo Bills. Highsmith said Mayfield's ability to succeed regardless of his supporting cast pushed him ahead of the former Wyoming passer.

"Baker Mayfield lost two receivers and he was the same quarterback," Highsmith said. "Josh Allen ... big arm ... he could throw the ball from here to the moon. When they have to make excuses ... why are they not completing passes? That's a problem."

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.