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5 highlights from Baker Mayfield's ESPN The Magazine profile

On Wednesday, ESPN The Magazine senior writer Mina Kimes published a new profile of Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns won't take the practice field in Berea for Training Camp until next week, but fans didn't have to wait that long for their next look at Baker Mayfield.

On Wednesday, ESPN The Magazine senior writer Mina Kimes published her profile of the Browns quarterback, which will double as the cover story in the next edition of the magazine.

RELATED: Baker Mayfield featured on cover of ESPN The Magazine

Kimes' profile is well worth your time and provides a detailed look at Mayfield's ascent to becoming one of the most promising young players in football. It also features an adorable photoshoot of the former Heisman Trophy winner playing a group of puppies, which was ultimately used for the cover of the magazine.

Clocking in at more than 4,500 words, the piece is time-consuming -- and once again, well worth the investment. But for those currently unable to dig into the full story, here are five highlights from Kimes' piece to hold you over:

Mayfield thought he'd be a Patriot

While it's a subject matter that's previously been reported on, Kimes' story lends Mayfield's voice to the idea that the New England Patriots were targeting him in the 2018 draft.

For a while, he was convinced New England would trade up for him at No. 2," Kimes writes.

Last May, Jeff Howe of The Athletic shared a similar sentiment, reporting that the Patriots had coveted an interview with Mayfield in the weeks leading up to the draft.

"Here’s the story, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Athletic: In the weeks leading up to the draft, the Patriots kept trying to meet Mayfield for an interview, but Mayfield repeatedly declined their efforts because he didn’t believe they had a chance to take him. Of course, the Patriots’ first pick was at No. 23, so Mayfield recognized they’d have to trade up at least 20 spots to get him," Howe wrote.

"Finally, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels told a member of Mayfield’s camp the Pats were indeed considering that type of scenario. As such, Mayfield granted the meeting with the Patriots a week before the draft."

While New England next explicitly told Mayfield it would trade up to No. 2 to pick him, according to Howe, the opportunity to do so never arose. The Browns selected Mayfield with the No. 1 pick and the rest, as they say, is history.

Credit: AP
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws a pass during NFL football training camp, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ken Blaze)

Mayfield sought 'revenge' against Hue Jackson

By now, plenty has already been made about Mayfield's relationship with Hue Jackson, who served as the first head coach of his NFL career before being fired eight games into the 2018 season. But while Mayfield has already said plenty about what he thought about Jackson and his decision to join the Bengals staff, he hadn't previously given voice to what it meant to beat Cincinnati twice last season with Jackson on the opposing sideline.

On Wednesday, that changed.

"Absolutely," Mayfield answered when asked if he relished defeating Jackson. "I'm not gonna lie to you and say that the first time I played Hue did not feel good. It's human nature to want to get revenge."

A quiet kid

While Mayfield has become known for his boisterous personality since he burst onto the college football scene, his mother, Gina, revealed to Kimes that as a child, the now-24-year-old was more reserved.

"He was a rules follower," Gina told Kimes, before sharing a story about a 9-year-old Mayfield accidentally backing his parents' car into the town mayor's yard after he was asked to go outside and roll the windows down.

"He was hysterically upset and crying," she said. "I didn't think I was gonna get him to come out of the house for two days."

A self-described teacher's pet, Mayfield also revealed that he "hated speaking in front of people" growing up. But after an underwhelming college recruitment followed a prolific high school career at Lake Travis High School, Mayfield's better-known persona was born.

"I realized I'm gonna have to speak my mind if I want to know what's really gonna happen here," he said.

Modern love story

Nearly two weeks ago, Mayfield made headlines when he married his now-wife, Emily Wilkinson.

It was less than two years ago, however, that Mayfield was merely trying to get his first date with Wilkinson via the unusual -- or usual, depending on how you ask -- tactic of repeatedly following and unfollowing her on Instagram.

Writes Kimes: "The quarterback and his fiancée, who is from Nebraska, were introduced in 2017 by a mutual friend. At the time, Wilkinson was living in Los Angeles. She says she was wary of dating a "punk football player" and ignored Mayfield's advances for months: He repeatedly followed and unfollowed her on Instagram, trying to attract her attention. Finally, in late December, they exchanged messages. He begged her to meet him before the Rose Bowl, his final college football game. She reluctantly agreed to grab lunch."

Days later, following the end of his college career, Mayfield moved to Los Angeles, where he moved in with Wilkinson and her brothers. Six months later, the couple was engaged, setting the stage for their July 2019 wedding in California.

Credit: Gregory Payan
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and Emily Wilkinson walk the red carpet before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 4, 2019.

OBJ to CLE

While Mayfield's emergence as a rookie is what originally built the buzz for the Browns entering the offseason, the anticipation skyrocketed in March when Cleveland acquired 3-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Speaking to Kimes, Mayfield admitted he was "overcome with emotion" when he learned of the trade. He also praised Beckham, as well as Browns fans, with a quote that some perceived to be a shot at the wideout's former fanbase with the New York Giants.

"He's here to work, and he wants to be surrounded by people who love him and support him and allow him to be himself," Mayfield said. "He's here to play in front of fans who actually care, who will actually show up to every game and pack the stadium and love him for who he is."  

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