Texas Football: Writer pitches idea of Ehlinger replacing Baker Mayfield

Senior Texas football quarterback Sam Ehlinger was recently mentioned in the media as a possible replacement on the Browns for Baker Mayfield.

The start to the 2020 season for senior star Texas football quarterback Sam Ehlinger was really solid. On Sep. 12 Ehlinger helped Texas knock off the UTEP Miners at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, by the final score of 59-3. Texas had a commanding 45-3 lead by halftime, which was already almost good enough to beat the spread before kick off.

The way Ehlinger played in Week 1 should inspire hope that he could at least be a Heisman finalist this year. Ehlinger is about the best hope that the Longhorns have for a Heisman finalist at the quarterback position since Colt McCoy left the Forty Acres following the 2009 season. Texas did have a decent shot at the Heisman, if only the team as a whole was better, with running back D’Onta Foreman back during the 2016 season.

However, the Longhorns might get their last shot at a Heisman Trophy and a Big 12 Championships with Ehlinger leading the way this fall. Getting into the College Football Playoff this year is also a big goal for Ehlinger with the Longhorns.

But what lies ahead for Ehlinger’s future once his time on the Forty Acres is officially over?

Where will he land come either the 2021 or 2022 NFL Draft (technically he has one more year of eligibility that he could use beyond the 2020 college football season)?

One Horns247 writer talked through the thought of Ehlinger potentially replacing the former rival Oklahoma Sooners Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, now with the Cleveland Browns, Baker Mayfield. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the former Sooner and Texas Tech Red Raider Mayfield was the first overall pick of the Browns.

This piece on 247Sports was based off a hypothetical pitched by another Yahoo Sports writer to the Browns future quarterback situation.

Mayfield got off to a rough start with the Browns this season, with a completion percentage around 54.0, with one passing touchdown and one interception in their loss in the opener to the Baltimore Ravens. Last year, Mayfield was one of the league leaders in interceptions (21). Only Jameis Winston ranked ahead of him in total interceptions on the season.

Next up for Texas is their Big 12 opener against Texas Tech on the road on Sep. 26. That will not only be the next opportunity for Ehlinger individually to push his Heisman campaign, he could continue to potentially improve his stock for the 2021 NFL Draft.