Entering the 2019 season, there was no shortage of storylines to be found when it came to the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield.
One of them, however, wasn't expected to be the second-year signal-caller's weight.
But as Mayfield and the Browns struggled to a disappointing 6-10 record, every facet of the former No. 1 overall pick's play began to be picked apart. That included the belief by some that Mayfield wasn't in ideal shape and that it contributed to his underwhelming play.
Mayfield, as it turns out, agrees with that sentiment and has taken the criticism to heart. So much so that according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, after putting on weight to "bulk up" last year, the former Heisman Trophy winner plans to be both "slimmer" and "faster" in 2020.
After throwing for an NFL rookie record 27 touchdowns in 2018, Mayfield completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 3,827 yards and 22 touchdowns while starting in all 16 of Cleveland's games in 2019. His interception total (21) and quarterback rating (78.8) each ranked as the second-worst in the NFL last season.
While he wasn't speaking specifically about his weight, Mayfield has already publically acknowledged the need for improvement in 2020.
"I already know what exactly I need to work on and improve going forward," he said ahead of the Browns' Week 17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in December. "That is the exciting thing about it is it always a continual process of getting better and improving. Just being able to take care of business this week, finish out the right way like we know we should and then improve and start things off right.”