CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New Browns personnel consultant Scot McCloughan is already on record as saying that Baker Mayfield would be his man if he had to draft a quarterback this year to lead his franchise.
So how will that impact the Browns' plans now that McCloughan has been hired to help them out with the draft -- and maybe beyond depending on how it goes -- and is already in on Browns' draft meetings?
In an interview with the Doug Gottlieb Show on Fox Sports Radio in October, the former Redskins and 49ers general manager revealed that Mayfield was his top choice from this rich quarterback class -- and even compared him to Hall of Famer Brett Favre, with whom McCloughan spent six years in Green Bay.
"He reminds me of a shorter version of Brett Favre," McCloughan told Gottlieb."Tough guy. He can throw it. And he's very confident, and he's not afraid whatsoever, whatsoever. He's a battler. I know saying Brett Favre's a big name, and I was around him for a while, but this guy has talent."
Word circulated at the Senior Bowl last month that McCloughan was talking up Mayfield (6-foot 3/8, 216 pounds, 9 1/2-inch hands) to Dorsey, and there's no question Dorsey likes him. But enough to draft him No. 1 overall? Or even No. 4?
Enough to select him ahead of early frontrunners Sam Darnold of USC, Josh Rosen of UCLA or Josh Allen of Wyoming?
In December, Dorsey told Sports Illustrated that he had already seen six of Mayfield's games this season.
"I saw [Mayfield] at Kansas this year, in the OU-Kansas game,'' he said. "You're darn right he's a good quarterback, no matter how tall he is. Some would say he's too short, but I would ask you: How tall is Russell Wilson? How tall is Chase Daniel?"
While several personnel executives at the Senior Bowl expressed concern to cleveland.com about Mayfield's character and maturity, Dorsey defended him.
"You guys create a narrative that you try to portray him as (a character concern),'' Dorsey told cleveland.com and another outlet.
Reminded that the Heisman Trophy winner was arrested last year for public intoxication, and that he taunted the Kansas sideline with the infamous crotch grab, and planted a flag on the Block O at Ohio State, Dorsey didn't back down.
"Every young man will make a mistake in his life, I bet you,'' he said. "And I think he's very remorseful of that mistake and I think he's moved forward from that, and he's trying to make himself a better person, going through the process.''
As for the crotch grab, which he witnessed in person, Dorsey seemed to appreciate the fieriness.
"Well, he made the fans of Kansas upset, I can tell you that,'' Dorsey said.
Dorsey also praised Mayfield to 92.3 The Fan earlier that day, saying he learned that Mayfield had learned his Oklahoma playbook in two days.
"And then the love and conviction that his teammates have for him, you can see that,'' he said. "Is he competitive? Yes. We all love that. Now we'll just go through the process and see how these things stack up.''
Mayfield told cleveland.com at the Senior Bowl that he'd embrace the challenge of playing for the Browns and that they'd be getting "a winner.''
He said he had no qualms about taking over an 0-16 team.
"Playing in the NFL is not about the record they had last year,'' he said. "It's about a new start. Starting over, getting ready to play again."
Is he up for that kind of challenge? "Absolutely. It's like walking on twice (at Texas Tech and Oklahoma)."
Mayfield also told 92.3 The Fan, "They're getting somebody that's gonna turn that franchise around. They're getting somebody that no matter what happens, no matter what anybody on the outside thinks of that franchise, I'm gonna put belief and I'm gonna put new life into that [team]."
As for Browns fans, "They're loyal and true and I respect that. It doesn't matter what happens, they're always going to be there for them so when you think about it, you'd love to play for a franchise like that. You've got people that are going to have your back and especially if you're winning ballgames and turning that around."
But on Radio Row at the Super Bowl last week, he said the Giants would be a perfect fit.
"Throwing the ball to Engram, Shep and Odell wouldn't be too bad," he told Newsday of throwing to tight end Evan Engram, and receivers Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham Jr. "Those are some studs right there. Being there, that's a big-time franchise. The spotlight, I think I thrive on that. I think that would be an ideal situation."
If McCloughan is willing to jump on the table for Mayfield, he might have to convince coach Hue Jackson and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley that the QB's height won't hurt him at this level; and that his arrest, during which he was tackled by a police officer after fleeing, was an isolated incident and not a Johnny Manziel-like red flag.
Jackson has stated his threshold for QBs is 6-foot-2, while admitting there are outliers; and Haley is coming off seven seasons with the 6-5 Ben Roethlisberger.
Besides, Mayfield would have to fit Jackson's scheme, because Dorsey has vowed to find players that fit what the coaches want to do, and that their voices will be heard in the draft and free-agency process.
It's also early. McCloughan, who was 49ers Vice President of Player Personnel when they drafted Alex Smith No. 1 overall, made his Mayfield remarks midway through the college season, and early on in the evaluation process.
The Browns still have a long way to go to determine who they'll take at No. 1, but it's clear Mayfield will be in the discussion.