The Cleveland Browns quarterback immediately before Baker Mayfield took over the primary starting role in the 2018 season was Tyrod Taylor.
Tyrod Taylor began the 2018 NFL season as the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback, having started the team's first three games. However, Baker Mayfield, who was drafted first overall by the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft, stepped in during Week 3 due to an injury to Taylor and subsequently took over the primary starting responsibilities for the remainder of the season. Mayfield went on to start 13 games in his rookie year.
Prior to the 2018 season, the Cleveland Browns had multiple starting quarterbacks in 2017. The primary starter for most of that season was DeShone Kizer, who started 15 games, with Kevin Hogan starting one game. These players were the last full-time starters before the Browns drafted Baker Mayfield.
Here's a summary of the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterbacks around Baker Mayfield's tenure, illustrating the transitions:
| Season(s) | Quarterback(s) |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Cody Kessler (8) / Robert Griffin III (5) / Josh McCown (3) |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer (15) / Kevin Hogan (1) |
| 2018 | Baker Mayfield (13) / Tyrod Taylor (3) |
| 2019 | Baker Mayfield (16) |
For a comprehensive historical overview of all starting quarterbacks for the franchise, including detailed statistics and season-by-season breakdowns, refer to the List of Cleveland Browns starting quarterbacks.
