This year’s class of NFL prospects will be eagerly awaiting the most important phone call of their life on Thursday night.
After a busy free agency period, attention will turn to the latest batch of players to emerge from the college game as the 2025 draft begins.
The NFL Draft returns on Thursday night, with a number of prospects hoping to go first overallNFL teams have been scouting the top prospects for months, with fans and media speculating over who will be taken off the board early.
Cam Ward is projected to go first overall, while Travis Hunter has been tipped to be the most talented draft pick since Bo Jackson.
Abdul Carter, Shedeur Sanders and Will Campbell are also expected to go early.
For those involved in the draft, it really can be a nerve-wracking waiting game — and that is something Baker Mayfield knows all too well.
Back in 2018, he was in the same position, holding out for that life-changing call.
The former Oklahoma quarterback was expected to be the first overall pick, after a stellar college career that saw him win the Heisman Trophy with the Sooners.
On draft night, Mayfield was at his house surrounded by dozens of family members, anxiously awaiting a call from the Cleveland Browns, the team in possession of that first pick.
Then his phone rang.
But to Mayfield’s massive disappointment, the call came from a friend, Zack, standing close by, in what was undoubtedly one of the meanest sports pranks ever.
The moment was captured by the quarterback’s Facebook series, Behind Baker, and shared online.
Mayfield was eagerly awaiting news as the 2018 draft unfoldedBehind Baker He then received a phone call, but quickly realised it came from a friendBehind Baker Mayfield saw the funny side, before being drafted first overall minutes laterBehind Baker“Why would you do that?” Mayfield asks, immediately realizing he’s been prank called by someone in the room.
“You’re such a jacka**.”
Thankfully for Mayfield, all was forgiven a few minutes later.
The Browns called soon after and told the Oklahoma prospect that he was going to be drafted first overall, so he actually got the worst phone call of his life followed by the best.
Mayfield went on to sign a four-year rookie contract with Cleveland on July 24, 2018, securing a deal worth $32.68million in guaranteed salary.
He made his debut in Week 3 that season off the bench, and rallied the Browns to their first victory in 635 days.
Mayfield made a positive start in Cleveland, but he went on to struggle over four yearsGettyThe QB went on to finish second in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, while also breaking the league’s rookie record with 27 touchdowns.
His record was later broken in 2020 by Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert, who finished with 31 touchdown passes.
While he started well in Cleveland, Mayfield’s tenure overall was marred by inconsistency, drama and a shoulder injury that plagued him throughout the 2021 season.
Over his four years with the Browns, he was said to have grown increasingly frustrated with a franchise that had made him the fourth quarterback in NFL history to play for four different head coaches in his first three seasons.
Even after he led the team to their first playoff victory in 26 years during the 2020 season, Cleveland declined to engage Mayfield’s camp about a potential contract extension once he became eligible for one, a signal to the star that he might not be in the team’s long-term plans.
In July 2022, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers on the heels of Cleveland’s blockbuster deal with the Houston Texans that landed Deshaun Watson.
The former No. 1 pick had a forgettable spell in Carolina, requesting his release before the end of the 2022 season, before being claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams.
He had a late-season, five-game stint in LA, which he later credited for rejuvenating his career after struggling with the Panthers.
Mayfield credited a late-season run with the Rams for rejuvenating his NFL careerAP He has since impressed with Tampa Bay, leading them to the postseason in both seasons as starterGettyMayfield then went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he has been able to thrive over the last two years.
Arriving as the successor at starting quarterback to retired legend Tom Brady, Mayfield first signed a one-year, $4m deal.
He led the Bucs to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, and was rewarded with a three-year contract extension, worth up to $100m, with $50m guaranteed.
Mayfield’s play continued to improve in 2024, with a 10-7 finish that secured another trip to the postseason and proved he is the perfect Brady replacement.
The quarterback has certainly had a wild ride since that prank call he received on draft night.
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