Baker Mayfield Loses Rookie Of The Year Award, Was He Snubbed?

CLEVELAND — Baker Mayfield broke the record for touchdowns thrown during a rookie season. On the way, he led the Cleveland Browns to their best season in years, lifting the franchise from the winless doldrums. That wasn't enough to win him Rookie of the Year, though.

Over the weekend, the AP selected New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The selection left Mayfield in the cold during the post-season awards ceremony.

Mayfield finished his rookie campaign with 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 93.7. The Browns won seven games this year, after going 1-31 over the past two years.

Barkley, meanwhile, had 1,307 yards on 261 carries (an average of 5 yards per carry). He also notched 11 touchdowns during the season.

In a quarterback-centric league, it's a little surprising to see NFL pundits choose to give a prestigious award like Rookie of the Year to a running back. While Barkley's season deserves a sterling review, Mayfield undoubtedly had a bigger impact on the wins and losses of his team.

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Bleacher Report responded to the announcement by saying "Saquon Barkley Was Great, But Baker Mayfield Is The True 2018 NFL OROY." It was a sentiment shared by Browns fans on social media.

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